Top 10 ways to stop the smoking ban stressing out staff

Stress affects one in five of the working population and is the single biggest cause of sickness absence in the UK1.

With that in mind, employers need to be even more vigilant about stress levels in the workplace now that staff may be feeling the effects of the smoking ban.

Smoking breaks have never been compulsory and employers may no longer feel obliged to continue with the practice. However, encouraging regular breaks could help reduce stress build-ups according to BUPA Wellness.

Tony Urwin, general manager, psychological services at BUPA Wellness, says: Many people, whether they smoke or not, do not take the breaks they are entitled to to get away from the work environment.

Smokers and especially those trying to give up smoking who may have, until now, felt able to relieve work-related stress by taking a short cigarette break may no longer have that release and could already be experiencing various feelings of stress. These could be made worse by experiencing smoking withdrawal symptoms as well.

No matter how busy you are at work, it is advisable to take the breaks to which you are entitled to help reduce stress, improve concentration, wellbeing and work/life balance. A short change of activity will also help.

To help employers empower their staff to combat stress, BUPA Wellness has come up with a list of stress symptoms to look out for. It has also created a list of top 10 mini work break ideas to help smokers, ex-smokers and non-smokers stay cool, calm, and collected with customers and colleagues.

Signs of stress
Everyone reacts differently to stress but there are some common tell-tale signs:

- Periods of irritability or anger
- Constant anxiety
- Lack of concentration
- Neckache, backache and tension headaches
- Excessive tiredness
- Loss of appetite or binge eating
- BUPA's five-minute stress-busting boosts:

One of the worries for those giving up smoking is the fear of putting on weight. In response, the following 10 ideas steer clear of smoking or eating options and instead focus on more health and wellbeing focused alternatives:

- Create a brain-teaser board with your team and test your brain power with a crossword/ letters game/ spot the difference

- Walk over to a colleague's desk rather than talking to them over the phone or via email

- Offer to make colleagues a cup of tea/coffee

- Combat muscle tension by setting up a stretch group

- Have a power nap!

- Practice some deep breathing exercises

- Take the stairs rather than an escalator/ lift to the floor you need

- Take a water break ñ ensure you are drinking enough throughout the day to help avoid headaches through dehydration.

- Have some relaxing music ready on your ipod to listen to during a short break

- Have a laugh!

Obviously some of these may need an understanding boss!

Further advice on smoking can be sought from BUPA's stop smoking web pages by visiting www.bupa.co.uk/health

Or to seek medical advice about stress, smoking or general health and wellbeing you can have a health assessment at one of our 66 wellness centres around the country with a BUPA doctor. Contact 0845 600 3458 for more information.

1 The Stress Management Society; Stress at work: http://www.stress.org.uk