Stress Management

The programme duration is 2 days, offered in-house.

Learning outcomes

The programme takes delegates on a journey of self-discovery - to understand the sources of their own stress, to place these factors in context and to gain perspective. It equips delegates with coping mechanisms to deal with stress.

• Improving and building on stress management skills and competencies
• Identify the causes of both positive and negative stress
• To equip delegates with an understanding of stress and its causes.
• How stress impacts health, work performance and interpersonal relationships
• Equip delegates with strategies to manage and deal with stress. Coping mechanisms. A stress management plan

The programme concludes with case studies and a personal action plan.

Purpose

The purpose of this programme is to equip delegates to manage stress in their personal lives and work situations in order to improve their quality of life.

The qualifying learner is capable of:

• Describing stress in personal life and work situations.
• Analysing the causes of stress in personal life and work situations.
• Describing reactions to stress.
• Applying strategies to manage stress in personal life and work situations

Target group

All staff. Delivery and content is adapted to the level and needs of the delegates. For maximum effectiveness, no more than 15 delegates are accommodated per programme.

Methodology

Our facilitators use PowerPoint visual presentations, international best practice videos, role-play, and case studies. The programme is participative. A certificate of attendance is awarded upon completion of the programme and assessment against SAQA Unit Standards can be arranged separately.

Course content

Module 1: Introduction

1. Understanding stress

   The nature and importance of mind-body relationships

   What stress is... definitions

2. Positive stresses

   How can I tell what is optimal stress for me?

   Stress and your performance

   The positive effects of pressure

3. Negative stresses

   Pressure and performance - the inverted U

   Negative thoughts crowd our minds

   Entering a state of "Flow"

Module 2: The causes of stress

Understanding causes of stress in your life

Your stress diary

Stress SWOT analysis

1. Personal

   Stress can make you sick!

   Developing stress toughness

   Some types of people have greater needs for stress relief

   Stress relief comes in several forms

2. Work

   Working with problem people

   Assertiveness - getting what you want in a fair way...

   Coping with "unreasonable demands"

3. Environment

   Minimizing stress in your working environment

   Managing environmental stress

Module 3: Reactions to stress

1. Behaviour reactions to positive stress

   Understand where you are now...

   Recognize longer-term stresses as well as short-term stress

2. Behaviour reactions to negative stress

   Some common stress symptoms

3. Impact on health

   The role of stress in health and illness

   Why is stress now different and more dangerous?

   How can stress cause so many diseases?

4. Impact on work performance

   Signs of burnout and how to help you avoid it

5. Impact on interpersonal relationships

   How does stress challenge relationships at home and work?

   How does stress affect your nervous system and undermine relationships?

   How does learning to manage stress help our relationships?

   What does it feel like to remain calm and focused under stress?

   What are the common stress response patterns?

Module 4: Strategies to manage stress

1. Coping mechanisms

   How can I manage stress better?

2. Pro- and reactive stress management

   Building defences against stress

   Managing chemical stress

   Managing stress with regular exercise

3. Stress management plan

   Stress management game plan

   Job analysis - understand the reality of your job

   Delegation - getting the help you need, when you need it

   Thought awareness, rational & positive thinking

   Positive thinking and opportunity seeking

   Emotional analysis

   Authentic happiness

Conclusion: Perspective