Any job has some stressful elements, even if you love what you do. However, the kind of stress that makes you apathetic, tired, angry or nervous and takes its toll on your productivity is constant, ongoing stress that just doesn’t ever let up.
This type of stress is harmful to your mental and physical health and you have to find out ways of dealing with it if you don’t want to suffer serious consequences.
1. Support your health and wellbeing
We all know the benefits that come with eating healthy foods, exercising and getting enough sleep. When you don’t get enough sleep, your stress becomes magnified.
Exercise is a great stress buster and eating healthily means you have a strong immune system. Get these three things right – sleep, diet and exercise - and you are more able to deal with stress of any kind.
2. Find ways to relieve anxiety
Mindfulness and meditation are great stress relievers because they take you out of fight or flight mode, help you to relax and give you mental clarity. You can even practice yoga or do breathing exercises during your breaks at work to relieve stress. If you’re faced with a stressful situation during the day, sit down and breathe intentionally until you feel calm enough to face it.
Many people use CBD oil for reducing stress. Remember that you shouldn’t go for a full-spectrum CBD oil to use in the workplace.
You don’t want it to contain any THC, the compound in the marijuana plant that makes you high and could show up on a drug test. There are a variety of CBD oils that are perfect for use in the workplace and will help to relieve your anxiety.
3. Learn to say “no”
If you’re overworked and overcommitted, you will inevitably be stressed. If you feel obligated to always say “yes,” you may find yourself completely overwhelmed and out of your depth. It is important to learn how to say “no” politely and firmly without causing offense.
It all comes down to negotiating your priorities. The real test is how to say “no” to your boss and explain how adding to your responsibilities could compromise the quality of your work.
4. Find support from coworkers
If you have a solid support system at work, it can really help to eliminate stress. Confide in colleagues you trust and talk about your work issues with those who understand the company culture. You can do the same for them when they need it.
Someone who used to be in the same role as you can often give you excellent advice. You may find out that the job was as challenging for this person as it is for you and your difficulties with a certain supervisor are nothing new. Receiving advice on how to handle these challenges can turn your situation around.
5. Set boundaries and take time to recharge
Living in a digital world makes us think we have to be constantly available. It is critical to establish work-life boundaries. If you separate the two, you can avoid carrying work stress home with you.
You need time to ‘switch off’ from work – a time when you don’t think about work-related matters at all. If you take the time to relax and unwind, you are far more able to handle the pressures of work with a clear mind.
You need to remember that you are more than the work you do. Find the best ways for you to completely disconnect and recharge so that work stress doesn’t get the better of you.