Work Stress relief

8/15/2018 (Permalink)

Just Breath!!!

According to the American Psychological Association, work-related stress unfortunately doesn’t just go away when you go home. When stress persists, it can take a toll on your health, and personal life.

A stressful work environment can cause headaches, stomachaches, sleep disturbances, short temper and difficulty concentrating. In worse cases, it can cause health problems such as anxiety, insomnia, high blood pressure, and a weak immune system. It can lead to depression, obesity, and heart disease. Some take up smoking, drinking or even use drugs.

These are common sources of work stress:

• Low salaries
• Excessive workloads
• Few opportunities for growth or advancement
• Work that isn’t engaging or challenging
• Lack of social support
• Not having enough control over job-related decision
• Conflicting demands or unclear performance expectations

It is very important to control the stress and take the proper steps before it affects your life.

Track your stressors. Keep a journal for a week or two to identify which situations create the most stress and how you respond to them. Include the people and circumstance involved and the physical setting and how you reacted. Did you raise your voice? Get a snack from the vending machine? Go for a walk? By taking notes you find patterns among your stressors and your reactions to them.

Take time to recharge. We need time to replenish and return to our pre-stress level of functioning. This requires “switching off” from work by having periods of time when you not engaging in work related activities, or thinking about them. When possible, take time off and unwind, so you come back to work feeling reinvigorated and ready to perform your best. When you’re not able to take time off, get a quick boost by turning off your smartphone and focus your attention on non-work activities for a while.

Learn how to relax. Techniques such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, and mindfulness. Start by taking a few minutes each day to focus on a simple activity like breathing, walking, or enjoying a meal. Being able to focus on a simple activity without distraction will get stronger will practice. You will find that you can apply it many different aspects of your life.

Get some support.  Accepting help from trusted friends and family members can improve your ability to manage stress. Your employer may also have stress management resources available through them.

If you’re human, you’re going to have stress. But there is a healthy limit and an unhealthy limit. Don’t let it get to where it’s unhealthy!