Stress surrounds us at every step ―from studying for a test to applying for a job ―we’re constantly caught in endless demanding situations. Stress can sometimes be incredibly overwhelming, whether because we’re not provided with the proper information or due to low self-esteem.
However, there’s an increasing trend of dealing with tense situations in which we must take immediate action or regret forever. For example, getting a basic job is filled with plenty of requirements, so people find living a decent life more challenging than ever. At the same time, the lifestyle quality declines considerably due to increased risks of developing chronic diseases from a young age or living in an environment affected by sudden temperature shifts and severe weather. The cherry on top involves mental health problems that hinder our potential to be stable.
Still, we must mitigate stress to live a happier and longer life, so where should we start? Of course, in our current workplace.
Setting boundaries
Setting boundaries in your personal and professional life is critical to living peacefully. Being transparent with your barriers means increased productivity, less stress and burnout risk. However, when you’re willing to help anyone and get over your needs to please your co-workers, you’re putting yourself under unnecessary stress and exposing the body to overworking.
Most of the time, stressful injuries lead to lower task accuracy, which can quickly turn into a work accident, according to https://www.personalinjuryclaimsuk.org.uk/. In these cases, employees must report the employer’s breach and claim to get compensation if they were heavily injured.
But to avoid a workplace accident, you should try to set specific boundaries on what you can or can’t do. For example, learning to delegate work and discussing the set hours you work can protect your emotional and mental health. You might need to prepare for confrontations, as not everyone is understanding, but this is for the sake of your wellbeing.
Getting organised
Being overwhelmed at work can be the cause of poor organisation skills, which is not that uncommon. You may be disorganised due to indecision, lack of focus or even perfectionism since it implies you fear people’s disapproval. However, you can put an end to these issues by taking control of your feelings.
Improving your organisational skills does more than simplify your tasks ―it takes things off your mind and allows you to prioritise yourself. You can start with the simplest strategies, from documenting meetings or projects to designating folders or drivers for keeping them in check. But when it comes to decisiveness, you must work on your reasoning and critical thinking to better collaborate, communicate with co-workers, and manage your time like a pro.
Organised office life can help balance your personal lifestyle as you have enough time for your hobbies or resting. Rewarding yourself for being consistent and organised is a helpful trick to keep you motivated until you build discipline.
Dealing with conflict
Sometimes, the problem stands in how your colleagues treat you, in which case working and being in the office can be a massive burden. Sometimes, having significant workloads is more doable than handling bullies at work.
It’s best to understand why rivalries start objectively. First, know there will always be a difference in standards and expectations, so communicating yours at first is crucial. Distinct personalities may also contribute to minor but repeated misunderstandings, while toxic behaviour from other people is often ignored.
You can’t always count on the company’s management team to condemn these behaviours and create new rules and procedures, so you may need to take matters into your own hands. Setting boundaries is the first step, but if it’s inefficient, you should try confronting people’s poor behaviour towards you and keep track of their attitudes. If things are slowly becoming unbearable, you might consider looking for a more professional job.
Avoiding multitasking
Many employers prefer workers who can multitask at any time, especially during rush hour when deadlines must be met immediately. While this is too much to ask for people already overwhelmed by the massive amount of information received daily, keeping up with this lifestyle is far from doable in the long term.
Multitasking is distracting― it can slow you down and make you prone to errors. At the same time, those who often multitask tend to be more impulsive and are easily distracted by external factors. So, it would be best to limit the number of your tasks and try to focus on a single one. Scheduling your tasks is also helpful because you designate a specific time.
Lastly, limiting distractions is required to get into that deep work moment where you’re fully concentrated. This way, your work is high-quality, and you can have enough time to rewire your brain for the next challenge.
Exercising more
Exercising is often underrated because its rewards come after consistent work. Working out, as low-impact as it can be, has multiple benefits for the body and the mind, from improved cognitive forces to less intense anxiety feelings.
Exercise reduces your heart risk, which is likely to occur if you work in an office and lack movement. It also strengthens your bones and muscles, which can be affected by prolonged sitting hours. Finally, you can better manage chronic health conditions, such as arthritis, type 2 diabetes or certain disabilities, if you consistently work out.
Still, exercising helps address your mental health, the most important factor in handling work-related stress. So, whether you run, walk after work or do some yoga, rest assured that in a few weeks, you’ll start noticing how your body’s health and wellbeing improve.
Are you ready to change your life?
Dealing with work-related stress is more common as the years pass, and young adults seem like they’re overwhelmed by its intensity. Although it’s easy to understand why we get so tired and affected by external factors, we must fight the issue, set some boundaries, work more organised, and have a balanced lifestyle to support our nerve-racking jobs.
