THE WELLNESS WIRE
Breathe Easy: Navigating Workplace Stress
Have you ever felt like you’re spinning plates on sticks, one wobble away from a crash? That’s workplace stress for you. It’s the Monday morning dread, the deadline jitters, and the meeting marathons that leave us feeling frazzled. In the UK, where the ‘stiff upper lip’ is often the order of the day, discussing stress at work can sometimes feel taboo. Yet, it’s a conversation we must bravely broach.
What causes us stress at work?
The reasons are as varied as British weather. It could be an unmanageable workload, unclear job expectations, or a lack of support. Sometimes, it’s the pressure of balancing our personal and professional lives, especially in a culture that often prizes ‘busyness’ as a badge of honour.
Tackling the Tension: Practical Tips
- Prioritise and Plan: Start your day by identifying the ‘big rocks’ – the most important tasks. Break them down into smaller, manageable chunks, and tackle them one by one.
- Communicate: Have an open dialogue with your managers or team about your workload. A problem shared can be a problem halved.
- Take Breaks: Step away from your desk. A brief walk or even a cuppa in the break room can work wonders.
- Learn to Say No: Sometimes, we need to set boundaries. It’s okay not to be available for every request or additional task.
- Mindfulness and Relaxation: Simple breathing exercises or a quick meditation session can reset your stress levels during the day.
You’re not alone in this
There is a difference between pressure and stress. Pressure is healthy,stress isn’t, especially in the long term. And yet, every single one of us experiences at some level.
Stress isn’t a weakness; it doesn’t display an ability to do the job, nor does it mean someone is unstable for a role. Normalising this can make it easier to talk about and to do something about it.
What matters is how we handle it. And while we’re discussing handling stress, why not
share your strategies with colleagues? What do you do to relax? How do you know when it’s
time to stop and unwind? It may sound simple, but these simple conversations spark a
change in culture, especially if the conversation comes from the people who lead the
organisation.
SHARE THE LOAD
By writing down or talking about what we have going on in life, it can feel like we’re lightening the load onour shoulders. It also helps us to understand what’s happening and when we understand something we’re better placed to do something about it.