Testing Times - by James Moore

 

Fit for business?  So called “stress tests” have been conducted at 19 of the biggest financial institutions in the US.   The sample represents about two-thirds of all assets held by US banks and regulators view their survival as critical to the economy.  The tests - designed to measure the financial health and wellbeing of the institutions - were being carried out by the US Federal Reserve.  A range of criteria were used but a key measure of their resilience is whether their financial reserves are sufficient to withstand a much deeper downturn than is currently forecast.  On this basis ten of the banks failed the stress test and need to raise a combined total of $74.6bn extra funds.

 

Increased stress.  A study by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has found that whilst job satisfaction had increased since 2006, three-quarters of respondents felt their organisation had been affected by the recession and 52% claimed an increase in work related stress.  Commenting on the report, Ben Willmott, a senior public policy adviser at the CIPD said "Without action to tackle some of the stresses and strains that are clear in our survey, employers could find employee health and wellbeing deteriorating, and employee engagement tailing off at precisely the time they need all hands to the pump to survive the recession and thrive in the recovery." If you are concerned that your wellbeing has been affected then it’s time to…

 

… take a test.  Stress can be a motivator if it is experienced for short periods or infrequently but can inhibit our performance and ability to cope if it is prolonged.  The first step to dealing with it is acknowledging that it has become a problem.  In their booklet “Stress And Your Heart”,  The British Heart Foundation has published a simple 23 question test which only takes a couple of minutes to complete and will give you a clear indication of how well you are managing your stress levels.  The booklet which is available to download from their website is also full of practical tips for self-care.

 

Take good care of yourself.   NLP techniques can be used to collapse anchors associated with stress and the S.C.O.R.E. model can be employed using a timeline to project desired states and move into them.   Exercise, healthy eating and drinking plenty of water will all help you to rest and boost your resilience.  There are plenty of ways you can incorporate exercise into your life such as getting off the bus or tube a couple of stops early and walking the rest of the way or using stairs instead of lifts which is good for both you and the environment.  Take time out of your schedule for relaxation and talk to friends, family and workmates about the challenges you face. And don’t forget to cut out or reduce the things you know are bad for you such alcohol, smoking and drugs. 

 

Be proactive and stress-less.