103 Working in the voluntary sector

Figure 2 Coping strategies

As Hackston and Moyle (2013) report, understanding the triggers to stress provides the first step to gaining control: we cannot avoid stress, so it is important to find the best coping strategies that work for us. Different people will find different strategies more or less helpful. People’s differing circumstances and access to help at work or from professionals varies, although there is much support available for free and online. 

Sources of help include: 

• in the workplace from managers, HR or occupational health departments
• from your GP or other healthcare professional
• professional counsellors (sometimes available on the NHS)
• self-help available online from organisations such as MIND or the NHS.

In general, organisations recommend that people look after themselves first by improving their eating and sleeping, being active, relaxing and having fun (NHS Scotland, 2016). These strategies may help with distracting people from lower-level stress and making them feel more positive. Then they may feel able to move on to working through their problems, thinking straight, talking to others (friends, health professionals, managers), and also better able to plan ahead so that stressful situations can be anticipated and coping strategies put in place.

One coping strategy that has gained in popularity in recent years is that of ‘mindfulness’. This is based on meditation as part of a mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), which has helped people cope with depression, anxiety and sadness. One definition of mindfulness is:

You might have already tried meditation or you might feel very sceptical about it! In the next activity, you can revisit your technique or try it out for the first time.

You will now move on to thinking about conflict, particularly within organisations.