Short breaks can help counter the health effects of stress

ORF is focusing on stress and its effects on health in its Bewusst gesund programming from Saturday, with experts explaining how stress is measured and recommending brief pauses during the day to help prevent stress-related illness.

Worldwide data show a marked rise in reported stress since the 1980s and 1990s. Andreas Schwerdtfeger, a health psychologist at the University of Graz, said constant availability can make it harder for people to switch off.

Stress is assessed through questionnaires and measurements of physical functions such as pulse rate. But feeling stressed does not necessarily mean someone is measurably under strain. Schwerdtfeger said stress can also be treated as an expected part of working life.

Stress levels vary little between occupational and age groups or between men and women, but the sources of stress differ, said Christine Korak-Wenzel, an occupational psychologist at AGIL-Gesundheitsmanagement. Household tasks are a stressor more often reported by women, while men’s main stressors tend to involve work, school or training.

Experts recommend taking small breaks before stress affects physical health, such as looking out of a window, briefly staring at a wall or standing up. Schwerdtfeger said these pauses may have small effects individually but can help people feel they have ways to manage stress. Korak-Wenzel advised taking breaks during the day rather than waiting until the evening or weekend to unwind.

ORF will report for a week on ways to manage everyday stress and when stress can make people ill.