Exploring Needs and Boundaries
The first step in stress management is taking inventory of all of the important areas in your life. When looking at the sources of your stress such as workload, workplace environment, relationships, family responsibilities, household tasks, cooking, etc., try to see if there are areas where you can delegate some of that stress.
One option we sometimes forget in the midst of stress and overwhelm is that we can go straight to the source and sometimes remove certain responsibilities. This can include reaching out to colleagues for help with a project, asking supervisor for support, or delaying projects. Outside of work, this can also look like asking roommates/partners to share chores, ordering takeout, buying prepared food, not answering every call when there may be stressful relationships, and others.
How to Play a New Role
If you are in a new role, then the first couple years you may feel a drive to prove yourself to the people who hired you. You may find yourself accepting every optional task thrown at you and feeling like you cannot say “no” to anything. While this is admirable and may lend itself to even more future opportunities, it may also be completely draining to the point where you cannot enjoy your life. This may be the time where you draw a line and set some boundaries for yourself. This is necessary in order to excel in the things that are already on your plate. Do you want to do a mediocre job on multiple things with high levels of stress or do an exceptional job on a few things with mild to moderate levels of stress?
Managing Working from Home
In the world of working from home, it is easy to continue working long past the typical work hours because it can feel like you have the “whole day” to get your work done. Having this mindset can actually create an environment where you end up having the work mode on for the entire day, every day, which could be contributing to increased stress levels.
In order to counteract this constant pressure of having to work, creating set times for work hours can be a helpful motivator. With a set time, you will have a dedicated work time and dedicate free time to do everything else you need to do that is not work related. According to thehealthorb.com this can relieve some of the guilt that may be lingering. You can also remind yourself that if you did not finish certain tasks that day, you have the next day with the set hours to complete what you needed. Depending on the situation, you can be flexible if there are true deadlines and you really are behind. But, sometimes it can be enlightening to really ask ourselves: does this need to be done right this minute or will the same results still be achieved if I do it tomorrow?
This can look like:
- going for a walk
- changing clothes
- showering
- listening to music (and doing nothing else)
- looking at self in the mirror
- stepping outside
- writing in journal summary of day (ex: 3 good things, 3 times you showed positive qualities, a challenge, etc.)
It may also be helpful to implement this type of ritual before starting work instead. Try to experiment with some different activities that can give you some time and space to transition.
