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Heavy workloads, long hours and pressure to meet work targets can get the better of anyone, including you. Even when you’re passionate about your work, you can still burnout. When left unchecked, work stress can become a real issue and have a negative effect on our lives. It’s not always easy to avoid the tensions that occur in the workplace, but if your stress is getting out of hand, get on top of it before it gets on top of you. Here are a few ways to manage your stress.
Set boundaries
Recognise the areas that are affecting you the most and take action. You could establish some work-life boundaries for yourself to help keep your stress levels in check. For example, why not make it a rule not to check your emails from home in the evening past a certain time? Also, set a cap on your working hours if you feel like it’s getting out of hand. Everyone has different preferences when it comes to the balance between personal life and work, but setting boundaries between the two can ward off stress.
Exercise
When you exercise, your body releases endorphins which boost your mood, thus helping the brain to better handle stress. If you exercise regularly, chances are you will notice stronger feelings of well-being and increased productivity. The better care you give to your body, the more relaxed you’ll feel. Plus, it will help you sleep better, which can counteract stress. We ask a lot of our brains each day at work, so exercising can help you get great shut-eye before a focused, stress-free day at the office. It’s important to make sure you get your 40 winks on the weekends too!
Pick up a project for leisure
A personal project, unrelated to your career, is an excellent way to distract your mind and become happier. Personal projects can enrich your life beyond the office and make you more productive. Be it painting, blogging, creating a podcast or writing a book, spending a few hours on a side project can be infinitely satisfying. You’ll be doing something you enjoy and it can be completely self-serving. Having a personal project can be liberating, which in turn, gets you busy and motivated. There are a ton of benefits from starting a side project, including learning new things, which may help you in your professional life.
Be your own biggest fan
Cut out the negative self-talk to reduce stress and try pumping yourself up instead. Experts estimate that the mind thinks between 60,000 to 80,000 thoughts a day. If you pay attention to these thoughts, you may discover that many of them are negative or unproductive. At some point, we’ve all said: “look on the bright side” when something doesn’t go the way we want. It’s a cliché, but there is some truth to it because positive thinking lowers stress levels and has a range of other health benefits.
Mindfulness and meditation
Mindfulness is all about existing in the moment. In practice, this requires making an active effort to stop worrying about everything outside the present – no more dwelling on what happened yesterday at the office. By regularly practicing mindfulness and meditation, you’ll be able to take a step back and calm your mind. There are plenty of ways to get started. Either at home or on your lunch break, find a quiet place to sit for fifteen minutes. Being mindful of your breathing is a simple yet effective way of clearing your head. You can also practice mindful walking. It’s pretty simple: each time you walk, pay attention to your body and observe what’s going on around you. When you simply concentrate on the world around you, you’ll feel refreshed and more relaxed. Bring your mind back to the present with mindfulness and meditation to beat work stress.
A study has revealed that 31.2 percent of employees in New Zealand felt their stress levels had increased in the last two years. If you’re feeling stressed, remember that you’re not alone. Every employee encounters stress, but you need to learn how to beat that stress. These five self-care tips will help you take control and succeed without pulling your hair out.
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