Work and Stress
Work stress sucks. In the United States, the majority of adults are encouraged to do their best in society. Throughout school, students are told by teachers, parents, and other adults say “it is important to prepare for the future”. What does that even mean? I was as perplexed as any other adolescent when that statement arose in conversation with elders. As a teenager, I felt such overwhelming emotions related to work-life balance. At seventeen I had moved out of my parents’ house and was financially independent. I was a server trying to scrape any penny I could find to go to college and pay for basic utility bills. This stress trailed into my early adulthood as well, it wasn’t until I hit thirty that I realized that being stressed at work doesn’t equal success!
The majority of adult Americans can relate to this level of pressure. According to The American Institute of Stress, over 83% of 158 million working adults in the United States experience stress at work. So, how do we cope with this stress? Here are four tips to help you decrease stress and increase productivity.
1. Get Organized- Make it a priority to organize your workspace. Not everyone works at a desk, so it is important to develop a concept of organization that makes sense based on your occupation. If you are a mechanic, it might be important for you to have your toolbox organized and labeled. If you work in an administratively focused field, it might be important to have a clean and well-kept desk. For others, organization might look like setting up your uniform the night before a workday. The important thing is to keep your space clean and clear of clutter, to allow your mind not to wander or become distracted by the chaos around you.
2. Make a Daily List of Tasks- Having a checklist of what tasks you need to complete throughout the day can be extremely helpful. Itemizing the priority job assignments can keep you focused and practice time management. There is something so satisfying about crossing out a project on a checklist. If you don’t get through your duties for the day, don’t sweat it! Just add it to the following day’s agenda.
3. Take Your Breaks & Leave- I am always encouraging coworkers and clients alike to take their breaks! Don’t skip lunch and always make time for yourself to allow for a quick fifteen-minute mental break from daily work tasks at least twice during an eight-hour work period. Breaks can help increase mental focus when working on challenging work tasks. Employees who take vacation and sick leave regularly are more likely to feel less burnout and promote healthy relationships with family members. Never work, especially while you are on vacation leave. This leads to an unhealthy emotional connection to work and neglects your family's worth.
4. Say NO!- This is related to work and family life balance. You should feel confident about saying no to a task that is extremely outside of your job duties (and you are not comfortable with), you are not trained to do, or during your vacation leave. It is important to set boundaries at work to prevent job dissatisfaction.
Feeling too stressed at work? Find work-life balance at Rich Life Therapy PLLC. I am here to help you handle stress, find balance, and take control of your life. We use proven techniques to find what's causing stress, teach you how to cope, and set boundaries. Whether it's too much work, a bad work environment, or feeling tired, therapy and coaching can help. My goal is to help you do well at work while taking care of yourself. Make an appointment today for a better work-life balance.
- B. Jordan
