Our stress-busting tips for social entrepreneurs

Stress can be a common part of life, especially for social entrepreneurs who are juggling lots at once. This Stress Awareness Month take some time to figure out what’s causing you the most stress. Then, think about how to manage this. Before you do that, check out these stress-busting tips from the staff at SSE Central – and remember to breathe!

Henna Patel, communications coordinator 

Stress can really affect your sleep pattern. It can be so hard to switch off and make sure you get all the zzzzzs you need. What I’ve been trying to do is create a relaxing bed time routine. I switch off screens at least one hour before bed, light a candle or incense, and read or do some relaxing yoga. Lastly, I reflect on the day’s events and my emotions in a journal to get those final stresses out of mind before I hit the pillow. Failing that, I could always just imagine I’m back in Tulum sitting on that beautifully peaceful beach, right?

Emily Vermont, network manager 

Currently in hot and stuffy Delhi on work business (or perhaps a bit of pleasure too?), Emily likes Chade Meng Tan’s idea of finding “thin slices of joy” in your day-to-day life. This could be a sip of your favourite drink, a bite of food, a few seconds of shared laughter with friend. “Thin slices of joy occur in life everywhere… and once you start noticing it, something happens, you find it’s always there. Joy becomes something you can count on”, as Tan explains.

Amy Barbor, network manager 

I have many ways of relaxing and consider myself quite an expert. But one of the ways which is especially useful for stress relief and building resilience is running. It ticks many boxes: spending time in nature; getting fitter & stronger; focussing the mind; producing dopamine (happy hormone); and chatting with my running buddy.

Francis Wight, development manager 

One of the best stress relievers for me is taking a step back and thinking: am I in the right frame of mind to do this piece of work? Is this the right location for me to do it? For me, starting a piece of work that requires a great amount of critical thought in the office after 4pm is largely pointless. Far better to spend that time doing something less mentally taxing, tackle it from home, or just leave the office earlier and approach it with a fresh mind the next day.

A culture of ‘presenteeism’ often forces us to approach work in a rigid fashion. Thinking you must be at your desk in the office during your given working hours or you won’t be working hard enough or be respected by management. Getting out of this mindset can be a great stress reliever. It can allow you to do your best work, when and where it suits you.

Kylie Dickenson, programme manager 

When I find myself feeling stressed or agitated I do a social media detox. The length of time for it can vary. But it’s amazing how many hours you free up when you’re not aimlessly scrolling through Instagram or Facebook! Finding other novel ways to fill that time instantly lifts my mood and helps relieve feelings of stress, anxiety and overwhelm.

Anna Moran, learning manager 

Carving out time in the morning and creating a routine has been my biggest stress buster. Just by getting up a bit earlier you can create a wellbeing routine that can include – exercise, learning and reflection. It’s all about making it a habit, so stick with it. I find that making that time for yourself helps overall to reduce stress.

What do you do to relieve stress? Let us know on Twitter