Stress is something that affects all of us at some point, but when we're under stress at work for a long period of time it can be very bad for health.

The UK has the longest working hours in Europe, 1 in 6 of us work more than 60 hours a week and 29% of employees with high stress levels work more than 10 hours longer than they are contracted to do. So how do you achieve the right work–life balance?

Frances Ive’s book Stress – The Essential Guide has the following advice:

• Try to avoid working late every day, even if it is company culture.
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  Don’t believe you’re indispensable and if you’re worried about something it is better to ask than to do it incorrectly or ignore it altogether.
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  Take your lunch breaks! Get out of the workplace, go for a walk, have something to eat or meet a friend so that you can switch off for a while.
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  Find out who the best person is to discuss problems with, or ask if your can be moved into a different department if colleagues are difficult to work with.
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  Be honest with yourself – if you’re always stressed in every job your do, perhaps there is a pattern developing due to your own way of doing things. It may not be the fault of your job.

Extract taken from Stress - The Essential Guide. For more information on bringing down your levels of stress at work, take a look at the book - available now in eBook, printed book and large print formats. Buy the printed version and get the eBook free!