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Even though our family is our number one priority, there’s nothing that can make us more stressed than work. If a boss is unsatisfied with our performance, we tend to feel blue for many days to come, feeling guilty and anxious. If our client is unsatisfied, on the other hand, we feel responsible and beat ourselves up because we hadn’t done it differently. These are all proofs that we take our job way too seriously, but if we should do that or not is probably a topic for some other time. Right now, we’re focusing on the work stress and how it affects our health, both physical and mental.
So how does work stress affect our lives and what can we do to stop it?
Energy Drains
The most common problem that we encounter is that our job takes so much of our energy. And on one hand, it’s good, as giving all you can to satisfy your bosses and clients is a good way to go. However, if you notice that your job is draining your energy so much that you cannot do literally anything else after work other than going home, sitting and watching TV – it’s time to do something about it.
Unfortunately, the only thing that you can do here is trying to rest. Even though resting after work might involve drinking a glass of wine in the comfort of your home or reading a good book, you can also plan a great holiday that will be extremely relaxing. Recharging your batteries is a good way to reset your energy levels.
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Buzzkill after buzzkill
We experience buzzkills several times a week, and a small buzzkill from time to time has become completely normal. When do we experience this? When something doesn’t turn out the way we imagined it to. A meeting that has gone rogue, losing a client or making a small mistake on our project can significantly deteriorate our mood. The thing is, if this happens regularly, the chances of you feeling bad outside of the office are pretty high.
This generally affects our relationship with ourselves and other people, as well. Leaving work unsatisfied and stressed will definitely not solve anything. It can affect the relationships we have with other people, or worse – you can end up with a headache or other stress-related symptoms that are definitely not healthy.
So what can you do to stop this from happening? First of all, swear to yourself that you will leave your work at the office. This doesn’t only mean leaving your papers and projects at home, but your overall mood as well, and start anew once you leave the building. This definitely is easier said than done, and if you cannot achieve it, you can always turn to meditation which has proven to be a great stress reliever.
Disorganization
Having so many things to do at once doesn’t only affect your mood in general, but also your organizational skills. You can be the master of organization, but there are times where we simply don’t know where to turn, which can furthermore affect our mental health even more. Becoming depressed, not knowing what to do next and completely losing yourself in the pile of tasks and papers is something that we all experience from time to time.
Becoming more organized might help you prolong this from happening. Having a well-organized briefcase and other things that will help us get even more organized might do the trick. Having a bullet journal can also solve things – as long as you have everything written down, everything will be perfect. What’s also crucial is to have a sense of what’s important and what’s not. Finishing the burning issues first and then focusing on the minor ones is the right thing to do under stress. Set your priorities straight – nothing’s equally important.
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How to tell if you’re stressed?
Stress doesn’t only come in the form of feeling blue and tired. It’s a mean occurrence that can result in various ways, feeling tired and anxious being the first steps. Mind these, however, as it’s very easy to transition from anxiety to depression, and that’s something that we definitely don’t want. Other symptoms of stress include:
- headaches
- muscle tension or pain
- chest pain
- fatigue
- change in sex drive
- stomach upsets
- sleep problems
All of these might seem unimportant for now but bear in mind that they can cause serious health problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.
How to manage stress?
So, you’re probably here because you want to know how to manage stress. Luckily for you, there are plenty of things you can try and that will most probably help you. The best thing that you could do is have some personal time during your working hours. Every half an hour, take 10 minutes during which you will be chatting with a colleague, taking a walk or something that will make you a bit more relaxed. Even if you’re swimming in paperwork, staying there and working while feeling quite depressed will not get you anywhere. It’s always better to stay an hour later at your job and actually finish the task in the right way. Another option that’s extremely effective is working out. This activity is a great stress reliever – just pick an activity that you like and devote yourself to it after a long day at work. Outside of working hours, some people also choose to use natural products and herbal remedies as a way to alleviate stress. For instance, provided that CBD has been legalized in your area, using a CBD-infused tincture, capsule, or gummy from somewhere like Blessed CBD could be a fantastic option to help with your stress management. You may also be permitted to consume products containing THC, another compound of the cannabis plant, which is said to have a stronger effect than CBD and, unlike CBD, produce a mild “high”. If you do decide to try THC-infused products, such as THC gummies, then researching the amount of THC in a single serving is strongly recommended. Everyone is different and therefore you need to know the right amount of THC to take for your specific needs.
Stress caused by work is definitely a devil in disguise. And even though it can result in catastrophic ways for our mental and physical health, being one step ahead of it and actually doing things that we like will make it go away. Good luck!
