Breathe, Stretch, Shake, Let it Go:

Managing Stress at Work

As a Licensed Professional Counselor, I know a thing or two about stress in the work place. Throughout my counseling career, work-life balance has been a common goal. But how possible is it to achieve? What does it look like to you? A little bit of stress is normal and even beneficial. Stress, in small amounts, helps us with decision making. The issue comes when stress is so overwhelming that we shut down completely and make little to no decisions at all. We feel depleted and just hope we can make it through the work day.

Keep in mind that work-related stress can affect both your mental and physical health. So how can you go about priortizing your health at work? Here are a few tips to help with work-related stress:

Do not skip your breaks! Breaks allow you to clear your mind, reset, and/or handle personal matters.
Use your PTO. You've worked hard for it and deserve to use it.
Go for a walk when you are feeling overwhelmed.
Practice diaphragmatic breathing at your workstation if you are unable to step away.
Eat nutritious foods and drink at least 64oz of water daily.
Take a mental health day.
Set boundaries (i.e. start/end work at designated times).

Job performance is important, but your health is more important. Prioritizing your health gives you the opportunity to perform more optimally. Similar to how parents are encouraged to put their oxygen masks on first before helping their children in case of emergency on a plane, you must put yourself first before you can be present for anyone else.

If you are interested in speaking to a licensed mental health professional about stress or any other presenting challenges, click here.