Feeling Stressed at Work? Here’s What You Can Do About it
Feeling stressed at work is something that most of us go through at some stage of our careers. Sometimes it can be temporary and other times, it can be a long-term struggle. Regardless of your salary or position, no-one should dread the idea of going to work. It’s somewhere we spend the majority of our week and should fill us with motivation and enjoyment, as opposed to fear and anxiety.
In this blog, we’re going to look at some of the best ways to prevent stress in the workplace:
Keep out of issues
One of the main reasons why people struggle at work is due to colleague disagreements. There’s nothing worse than being in the centre of disputes and gossip, so it’s a good idea to avoid it as best you can. In time, a negative atmosphere can start to impact your mood and professional performance. If you believe that conflicts are getting out of hand, it may be worth having a private meeting with your boss to make them aware so that they can deal with it.
Take regular breaks
Whether you’re in the office or working from home, it’s important to take a few minutes to take a breather. Focusing intensely on your tasks for hours and hours each day can become overwhelming – especially when you have so much on your to-do list. Taking a much-needed break will help you gather your thoughts and refresh before starting again. It’s also important to switch off any work-related devices at the end of the day, so you aren’t bombarded with texts, emails and phone calls out of work hours.
Change your job
If your workplace environment or nature of the job isn’t suited to you, it’s never too late to find a new job elsewhere. People switch jobs 5 times on average in their lifetime, so maybe it’s time to try something new. If you recently graduated from university, there are plenty of graduate jobs and internships available which may interest you.
Think carefully about the type of company culture and career path that is best for you and it will enable you to narrow down the job search to prevent facing the same obstacles again.
Take time for yourself
When your working day has come to an end, make the pledge to focus on yourself. Think about what makes you happy – it could be a jog around the neighbourhood listening to your favourite tunes, a meet-up with friends or reading your favourite book. Being able to disconnect from your worries to enjoy hobbies and pastimes is a skill you need to practice, in order to let go of stress and keep your mental health in check.
Get support
Don’t be afraid to express how you feel – it’s not a sign of weakness but shows strength by voicing your struggles and standing up for yourself. Stress can be difficult to deal with single-handedly so reach out to loved ones and ensure to explain your situation to your boss. A good boss should put the relevant strategies in place to reduce stress levels and make your working life more manageable.
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