Stress is a normal part of work. No matter how much you avoid it, factors like heavy workloads, long hours, and tight deadlines cause stress. Over 61% of employees stated that stress caused them to experience tiredness and loss of control, leading to low productivity and inadequate performance. Additionally, stress harms your health. It increases blood pressure, causes headaches, and decreases immunity. If left unattended, you may experience fatigue and develop chronic conditions like heart disease. Learning to set boundaries and is crucial when learning to give yourself permission to relax.
Here are a few ways to start:
Learn to set boundaries
Creating boundaries prevents you from over-committing. Being productive and helping others is good, but too much will stress you out. This is where the importance of saying no and setting boundaries comes in.
Say no to responsibilities that aren’t part of your job description. Although you can occasionally accommodate requests, ensure these won’t eat into your personal time or add stress on top of your accepted tasks. Lastly, manage your time properly, especially when working on difficult projects. You can talk to your project manager since they’re responsible for delegating tasks and adjusting schedules and targets as needed. As such, they can help you and the team develop arrangements that ensure you don’t work longer than the required office hours. Paid overtime is tempting, but losing sleep and getting burnt out due to extra work only harms you in the long run.
Get some time off
Taking vacations or time off from work can bring guilt because you’re “wasting time.” However, this is not the case. It’s important to have your vacation when needed to avoid burnout. Reluctance to take time off will damage your health and workflow. When you work while burnt out, you won’t be able to give your best, which may result in numerous mistakes.
Consider scheduling your time off at the start of the quarter or month. This sets your vacation in place, so you’re guaranteed to use them up by the end of the year. In terms of activities to do, try spending time outdoors. Nature relieves stress, increases productivity, and boosts your mental energy. These will wash away all the work stress and make you feel refreshed when you get back. Consider our True Nature retreat to immerse you in the great outdoors through educational tours, yoga, and service projects.
Organize your workspace
You may not notice it, but a cluttered workspace decreases focus, increases confusion, and creates tension. Your brain gets overwhelmed by objects unrelated to your tasks, leading to stress. This highlights the connection between health and cleaning. Organizing your workspace brings feelings of control, increases focus, and improves mood—helping you relax.
Keep your space tidy by keeping unnecessary clutter in drawers and organizers. Only have the necessary items on display, like pens, notepads, and paperwork. Make it a habit to clean your space after work hours to remain consistent.
Take short breaks
It’s tempting to take advantage of productive streaks. After all, who would want to stop working when they have the energy to go for hours? Nonetheless, it’s crucial to take a rest. A study found that short breaks help boost energy. Experiment participants who took micro-breaks (around 10 minutes) performed better on tasks than those who worked continuously. Research suggests that breaks encourage the flow of new ideas and improve focus.
Set a reminder on your computer to take breaks, so you don’t forget. Read a book, solve a crossword, or refill your mug. Do something that’s not work-related for a few minutes to energize yourself. Stress has immense physical and mental consequences. To relax, remember to set boundaries, use your time off, take breaks, and tidy your workspace.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ELIZABETH TREVINO
I am a freelance writer with a knack for wellness, travel, and nature articles. In my free time, I like to read classic books and attend pilates classes. I also enjoy tending to my home garden as a nature and wellness enthusiast.
