When we talk about stress at work, people tend to think about it relating to their mental well being rather than their physical health. Stress can be physiological just as much as it is psychological. Many of us will attend to what's going on inside our heads to identify the causes of stress, when sometimes we ought to be looking at the wider picture. There are many schemes and help available at work to people who are stressed as a result of something in the workplace. Here are some that you may recognise, and some you might not - that may need acting upon to curb your own stress levels.

Display Screen Equipment (DSE) assessments

Most of us do our work at a desk for most of the day. Whether you perch yourself on a different hotdesk every day (in which case, this becomes especially important) or if you've been in the same corner of the room for 20 years, then you should undertake a Display Screen Equipment Assessment. Not heard of a few years ago, these assessments are strongly recommended by occupational health managers across the country and may even be compulsory in your place of work. Since we're the "screen generation", sat in front of computers, we're only just learning how to deal with the stress and health dangers that come from a working lifetime in front of a PC.

Our eyes, for example, are just not used to having such a small area to focus on for eight hours a day. If you don't take enough screen breaks, your eyes will get tired, you might possibly give yourself a headache and that will add to your stress levels. Many companies offer free or vastly reduced eye tests. If you need glasses, they might contribute towards them. Many people are in denial about how bad their eyes are. Screens aren't good for them, so take at least ten minutes out of every hour trying to do something else. Not necessarily something unproductive like chatting by the water cooler, but maybe cleaning out your physical letters in your in/out tray, checking your pigeon hole and so on.

Not setting up your workspace - desk, chair, monitor height, arm/wrist/back/footrests can be a disaster for your health and thus increasing your stress. Do you think you'll be stress-free trying to file a report before a deadline with aching sciatica down your side because of an incorrectly positioned chair? Of course not. If you need specialist equipment due to a new or existing physical health problem, then your company has an obligation to try and provide you with adjustments to help you.

Inadequate tools to do your job

Did you know that an inadequate tool - for example, software that doesn't meet the requirements to do your job - is now recognised as an occupational health issue due to the stress it can cause? Sometimes we can be doing the best job in the world, but without the right software, it makes our hard work redundant. Make sure you've got everything available to you that you need to do a good job. Don't be afraid to ask for training. There's nothing more stressful that joining a new company or having a new piece of software be installed on your computer when you can't use it or navigate around it. Ask for training - most managers will be pleased you asked!

Not looking after yourself

Lack of physical condition can lead to stress. That doesn't mean that those of us that are fit and healthy are always happy, but there are some ways to improve your mood through your physical well being. For example, if you tend to eat a sugary breakfast or lunch, then you'll get the "3 'o' clock slump" where your sugar levels dip and you feel sluggish, tired, demotivated and yes - stressed. Watching your diet - avoiding lunchtime drinks and food that's bad for you can help you greatly in getting that "feel good" factor back in your head as well as your body. Look after yourself and you'll feel better inside and out.