Don’t stress!
Free stress-busting activities were offered to all staff this week.
On Wednesday (2 November), Sussex took part in National Stress Awareness Day by offering free yoga taster sessions, tai chi classes and massages to employees.
The sessions on offer were: tai chi and yoga; yoga/relaxation; and three different types of massage.
The initiative, aimed at helping Sussex staff to “relax and have fun” at work, was a collaboration between the University’s sports service, the Health and Safety Office and the Staff Development Unit.
Marion Richards, Director of Health and Safety, said: “Many people feel stressed at some point in their lives. Some stress is good for us - it can boost our productivity and help us feel more alive.
“However, if too many demands are put upon us – whether at work or at home, we can feel anxious about how we will cope. The resulting mental strain can cause emotional problems and physical responses such as headaches, high blood pressure, stomach disorders or skin problems.
“These can develop into serious health conditions if we are not able to remove the stressors or find ways of coping with them.
“National Stress Awareness Day 2011 was about making people aware of the various ways of managing stress and the University participated by offering a range of activities to help staff relax and have fun.”
Karen Creffield, Head of Sport, added: “We currently have some great services and classes on offer to help staff manage stress and this was a perfect opportunity to promote them.
“We are hoping to follow up the tai chi and yoga/relaxation taster sessions by running a regular programme of staff-only sessions at lunchtimes and after work in the new year.
“We have a good track record in promoting health and well-being across campus. We even won the ‘healthiest workplace’ award at the 2009 Brighton and Hove Business Awards.”