Wellbeing is certainly one of the buzzwords in society at the moment, and companies are taking more notice of the general health and happiness of colleagues, but what do you do for yourself and others?

Wellbeing should be something that you try and make time for everyday, and certainly every week, but some communicators like to focus on ‘Wellbeing Wednesdays’, so hence I am writing this on a Wednesday.

Good wellbeing comes in different forms, and a simple online search of the term will direct you to different authors listing anything from three and up to ten elements involved. I am going to focus on three components:

• Physical wellbeing

• Mental wellbeing

• Financial wellbeing

Wellness and wellbeing are closely related but not the same, however the three pillars of wellness - sleep, exercise and nutrition - will certainly impact on your general wellbeing and are absolutely worth noting.

It is commonplace in society to ask someone how they are, or in modern speak - ‘How are you doing?’ - when you greet them. And yet often I wonder if people really care, and if they do what influence they can have.

Stress management first involves recognising where and why an individual feels under pressure, and these can be internal to the working environment as well as external.

Sources of pressure at work include: demands of the job - both in terms of time and others involved, the physical environment, organisational structure, job satisfaction and levels of support on offer. In addition it can also be subject to the relationships involved, role related issues such as personal attitude and aptitude, organisational change and control.

Pressures outside of work include: personal habits - eg eating and sleeping (physical wellbeing), mental and physical health, relationships and domestic situations, social activities, community issues and one that has become increasingly relevant, financial circumstances.

Having identified the sources of pressure, they can be segmented under the three headings of physical, mental and financial wellbeing.

Everybody’s circumstances are unique to them, and the ability to manage wellbeing needs both self-management as well as a collaborative approach. There are many things that you can do to help yourself, and there are other elements that will require input from others but by breaking pressures down into smaller, more manageable parts, that can often help people to improve their lot.

Sleep, hydration and nutrition are three of our biggest ‘friends’. If we look at our body as an engine, we need to give it the simple ingredients to survive and thrive. Throw in a bit of exercise too, and suddenly the world can look a better place as endorphins start to flow, and you will be in a better mental and physical state to tackle the other factors.

Employers are not blind to the pressures placed on colleagues, and many now offer support in ways that were never available before, both internally and externally.

So back to the earlier question, ‘How are you?’ - Be authentic. Talking is a wonderful remedy, and genuine interest, empathy and words of encouragement go a long way to improving wellbeing both for the giver and receiver.

Financial wellbeing is a relatively recent concept, but it makes so much sense. If you are struggling to pay the bills then financial pressure can easily become an overriding factor in your life, and that is horrible. - How do you get out of a downward spiral? - Borrowing is a short-term fix, but seldom a longer-term solution.

Budgeting is a life skill that shouldn’t be overlooked. If you need to conserve money then you need to appreciate first what is incoming, manage what is outgoing and balance the two. Where can you save, moderate expenditure, reduce waste? Are there additional sources of income available?

Often talking about your concerns with friends, family and colleagues can help. Others may face similar challenges and you could trade ideas. - Humans are gregarious and working together to identify and resolve problems can bring comfort - ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’.