Most occupations have their stress points, whether you’re a student or teacher, a home maker, a professional or self employed. The financial climate at present is causing huge stress for many people. Many people find that the pace of life is overwhelming, the rate of change too fast. Stress can grow unnoticed, and its effect can be highly detrimental to health.
And of course, stress at work doesn’t exist in isolation. Elsewhere in our lives, students are facing exam pressures, parents are juggling work and family, most of us encounter traffic and commuting stress and the run of the mill everyday challenges of living.
To be effective in the work, we need to be sufficiently well. Our stress levels shouldn’t be allowed to grow to such an extent where they have a detrimental effect on our relationships or on our ability to do our work.
I’d like to suggest 10 ways in which to help keep the stress at bay:
- Breathe, and check in with your body. How are you feeling right now?
- Exercise regularly. Take regular breaks, and relax. Go outside, look at the sky.
- Find some daily practice that encourages you to breathe more, relax, and connect with your body, eg meditation or yoga.
- Take the conflicts and dramas out of your relationships. Give yourself and others the benefit of the doubt before rushing to judgement.
- Count your blessings. In every challenge there is an opportunity. Be alert to the silver lining in every cloud.
- Stop fighting with things or situations that are outside your control (this includes other people, you can‘t change them no matter how much you might want to.)
- Take responsibility for your part in every situation. It reminds us of where we have power and choice to make changes and move forward.
- Recognise and acknowledge your inner conflict. Accepting a situation is not the same as giving in.
- Talk about what’s bothering you with a colleague, family member or friend. Even if you don’t see how they might help you, talking helps to relieve stress and can change the way you see things.
- If a situation persists and is causing you distress, remember you always have a choice. There are no medals for enduring a situation that is painful to you. Consult a professional before your health starts to suffer.
In short, look after yourself, and you’ll have more left to give to others.
If stress is having a negative impact on your work or relationships, maybe talking about it might help? Contact us here to make an appointment.