Around 40% of workers in the US say that their job is very or extremely stressful, reports Stress.org, adding that a quarter see work as the number one stressor in their lives. While the media may portray tension as something that is to be expected in everyday life, stress should be taken seriously. Having chronically high stress levels is linked to a wide array of health conditions—including heart disease, obesity, and Type 2 diabetes. How can you battle stress effectively and naturally so that you can improve your work-life balance?
Establish Limits
Regardless of how committed you are to your job, it is important to make it clear that you have boundaries you respect. Currently, around 16% of companies worldwide are 100% remote. Because of the pandemic, many more have workers who are temporarily working from home. Whether you are in an office or you telecommute, work to a schedule agreed upon with your managers. Avoid the temptation to be available 24/7 answering texts, e-mails, and client queries. Consider having a phone just for work so you can switch it off at a specific time of the day.
Hone Your Time Management Skills
Keep a diary for a few days so you can clearly see exactly what you are spending time on. Include time spent surfing the web or using social media. If you find that distractions are taking up a considerable chunk of your workday, causing you to work overtime, then you need to plan your day better. Consider using an app like Todoist, Toggl Track, or TimeTree. These enable you to digitally plan tasks, delegate tasks, see everything you have to do at a glance and track the time you spend on specific tasks so you can find ways to boost your efficiency.
Fight Stress Proactively
Despite working to a schedule and managing your time well, you may find that the very nature of your job stresses you out. Some of the most stressful jobs in the world, reports Career Addict, are personal assistant, marriage and family therapist, financial analyst, retail and hospitality staff, and construction workers. In order to manage stress and anxiety, embrace holistic pursuits such as mindfulness meditation, yoga, and controlled breathing. Also, find ways to spend more free time in green spaces, since just a few minutes of sitting or walking through a park or forest area can significantly lower your stress levels.
Make Sure You’re at the Right Place
Ethical workplaces care for their employees, making sure stress levels are not through the roof. Ideally, a middle-to-large-sized company should offer their employees mental health assistance, leave, and support for those who are stressed out by their jobs. Flexitime, which allows workers to choose the start and end of their working day, is also ideal because it boosts motivation, battles fatigue and stress, enables workers to avoid the business times on the road if they wish, and ensures that their job fits in with personal responsibilities such as school hours, care duties, and the like.
Work-related stress is a serious global concern. To keep this problem at bay, set healthy limits manage your time well, and battle stress actively every day or as regularly as you can. If your job does not respect employee wellbeing, consider the possibility of moving to a company with a greater concern for employee health, happiness, and safety.
