April 16th is International Stress Awareness Day

Stress is:  “The adverse reaction people have to excessive pressures or other types of demand placed on them.”  This means that stress is not good for you. Stress is an unhealthy state of body or mind or both.

So what can you do? 

If you aren’t sure if you are having an adverse reaction to stress, check out this stress quesitonnaire by the International stress Management Association: http://www.isma.org.uk/pdf/personal/stress_questionnaire.pdf

And the How to Identify Stress Chart can be found at: http://www.isma.org.uk/pdf/nsad/how-to-identify-stress.pdf

Numerous studies show that job stress is the #1 source of stress for American adults and that it has escalated progressively over the past few decades.  If you want to know HOW MUCH JOB STRESS YOU HAVE visit the American Institute of Stress for their online questionnaire: http://www.stress.org/topic-workplace.htm?AIS=4a82bff173c8ed04c88190fc47a59999

So how can you help others during International Stress Awareness Day? Here are a couple of ideas:

In an oversized (or different shaped) envelope send a single bag of tea or coffee, with a note that says “Have a cup of tea/coffee on us – relax and enjoy“. Be sure to include other stress reduction tips. If you have a store-front or office, invite a massage therapist in for the day to give neck/shoulder massages to your staff and your clients/customers.

Give away imprinted stress balls, eye masks and copies of All Stressed Out and Nowhere to Go ~ 33 Ways to Reduce Stress and Increase Your Life Expectancy found here: http://speakingwithspirit.com/successandthensome/all-stressed-out-and-nowhere-to-go/. (Feel free to imprint on your own letterhead to share with your customers).

Today is also:

High-Five Day

Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day

Guitar Pickers Day

Be sure to check out   Quirky Marketing Calendar ~ How to Use Zany and Non-traditional Holidays to Promote Your Business 365 Days a Year for More great marketing ideas.

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