The International Stress Management Association (ISMAUK), a registered charity, is drawing attention to International Stress Awareness Week, which will take place from 3 to 7 November 2025, with Stress Awareness Day on Wednesday 5 November.

Although effective stress management is essential for all organisations, it holds particular importance for small business owners and company directors, who frequently juggle the dual responsibilities of running a business and supporting their teams.

Managing Stress: Essential for Your Health and Your Business

Running your own business can be immensely rewarding but also highly demanding. When stress isn’t well managed, it can negatively affect concentration, decision-making and overall wellbeing, both for you and your employees, and can ultimately hinder business performance.

Employers are legally obliged to safeguard staff from work-related stress. The Health and Safety Executive’s Working Minds campaign offers valuable resources and tools to assist employers in meeting this duty.

Recognising the Warning Signs

According to the NHS, stress can present itself in numerous ways—physically, mentally, and behaviourally.

Symptoms such as digestive issues, poor concentration, indecisiveness, irritability and short temper may all indicate excessive stress. Identifying these signs early makes it easier to take practical, proactive steps.

Adopting a Strategic Approach

What practical steps can you take to better manage stress? Below are five useful suggestions.

1. Talk

The old saying, “a problem shared is a problem halved,” remains true. A strong support network is invaluable, and spending time relaxing with family and friends can provide perspective and help you decompress.

Creating opportunities for conversation at work also matters. However, cultural differences may make people reluctant to discuss “stress” or “mental health” directly.

Instead, you could focus discussions on workload, energy or task challenges. Asking simple questions such as “How’s your week going?” or “Is there anything getting in the way of your work?” can open dialogue without using terms that may feel uncomfortable.

2. Make Time for Yourself

Schedule regular time away from work each week to do something you genuinely enjoy.

Setting personal goals or challenges—for example, taking up a new sport, learning a skill or practising a language—can help divert your focus from work and refresh your outlook.

3. Try Time Management Techniques

A few straightforward time management habits can make a big difference when you’re balancing multiple priorities.

Some people use the final 10 minutes of the workday to list tasks for the following day, drawing a line under work and making it easier to unwind. Others use the “big three” method—identifying three key priorities each morning that will most benefit the business. Completing these first allows you to structure smaller or routine tasks around them.

Choose methods that naturally suit your working style and apply them consistently. Over time, small daily adjustments can significantly reduce stress.

4. Plan Ahead

Certain stressful situations are unavoidable. If you know a specific day or event is likely to be demanding, plan ahead—perhaps by creating a checklist or schedule—to increase your sense of control.

You could also plan lighter tasks before or after intense periods. Avoid scheduling consecutive high-pressure meetings when possible, and allow for brief recovery intervals to maintain composure and focus.

5. Focus on What You Can Control

Concentrating on what you can influence, rather than what’s beyond your control, helps shift your mindset and physiological response to stress.

When we fixate on uncontrollable factors—a client’s reaction, an unexpected policy shift or even the weather—our mental energy is drained with no productive outcome.

Writing down what’s within and outside your control can be useful. Once you’ve identified these, direct your attention to the areas where you can make a difference.

In Summary

International Stress Awareness Week serves as an important reminder that managing stress is a continual part of running a healthy, successful business.

Why not take this opportunity to choose one practical action you can implement this week to help reduce your stress levels—and those of your team?

See: https://isma.org.uk / https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/feelings-symptoms-behaviours/feelings-and-symptoms/stress/