Cut down on stress-related absenteeism

ABSENTEEISM is expensive. Data from Stats SA puts its cost to the economy at R12-billion to R16-billion a year.

There are many reasons why people take days off from work, but stress, according to a study done by Bloomberg, is one of the main causes, with South Africa having the dubious honour of being the world’s most stressed country after Nigeria.

Sibongile Mamafha, the principal executive of Thebemed, has the following advice on how to care for your mental health:

Eat nutritious foods that feed your body and mind. “Understand the food groups and how to combine them properly. Your body and mind are closely linked,” she says;

Include exercise in your day. This will reduce your stress levels and keep your body healthy. You do not need to spend hours in the gym every day pushing yourself past your point of endurance to reap the rewards. A brisk 30minute walk five times a week will make a big difference to your wellbeing;

As you get more stressed, you need more, not less, sleep. But, says Mamafha: “Stress and the always-on digital lifestyle overstimulate us, making it hard to sleep.” Be disciplined about getting seven to eight hours of sleep each night;

In our obsession with getting more and more done each day, we often ignore our own needs. As we battle to balance the commitments of home and work, we put ourselves at the bottom of the endless to-do list. Stop this, now. Find a way to set some time aside to do things that you enjoy, and to be quiet and connect with yourself. Make this a priority; and

When you feel you are becoming overwhelmed by everything, stop trying to cope on your own. Speak to family or friends or find a professional, but do not try to carry on when you know you need to get help. — Margaret

Harris