Busy work routine

Don’t let diarrhoea be the boss

Everyone gets stressed at work now and then, but work-related diarrhoea is a sign that it’s affecting you physically and mentally. Not only can it be especially inconvenient to have diarrhoea at work, it can leave you feeling tired and rundown, and even less able to cope with your day.

How to survive the 9 to 5

• Make time for yourself
  
  Don’t have time to stop for lunch? Try to take a break later – people normally perform much better after a rest.
   
• Eat relaxing foods
  
  Wholegrains and green, leafy vegetables are rich in B vitamins, which help you relax – so make wholemeal sandwiches and tuck into oaty snacks.
   
• Learn to be assertive
  
  Know when to say no without upsetting or offending people. Or if you’re in a potentially confrontational situation, try to keep calm and look for a solution where everyone can achieve a positive outcome.
   
• Learn to manage your time more effectively
  
  Prioritise your day and give unpleasant tasks a high priority, so you can get them out of the way rather than having them on your mind all day.
   
• Accept the things you cannot change
  
  Try to improve stressful situations but if this is not possible, do your best to accept things as they are.
   
• Try to see things differently
  
  If something is bothering you, try to see it from a different and less stressful perspective. Talk it over with someone else before it gets out of proportion.
   
• Have a laugh!
  
  Try to see the funny side of a situation. Laughter is a great stress reducer and boosts the immune system, which is often weakened by stress.
   
• Avoid depending on alcohol, nicotine and caffeine
  
  Long term, this will just add to the problem. For example, caffeine is a stimulant, which can cause stress.
   
• Get physical
  
  Physical activity works off the biochemical and physical changes that stress causes in your body.
   
• Learn relaxation techniques
  
  Good relaxation techniques include breathing exercises, massage and a variety of complementary therapies.