Wellness Tips for Work: Managing Stress
Stress is the body's reaction to any change that requires an adjustment or response. The body reacts to these changes with physical, mental, and emotional responses. You can experience stress from your environment (E.G. from your workplace or from the famous Lagos traffic), your body, and your thoughts.
Good management is the backbone of any successful individual and stress management is all about taking charge. The goal is a balanced life, with time for work, relationships, relaxation, and fun.
How do I begin my workplace stress management journey?
Stress management starts with identifying the sources of stress in your work, environment, and life. To identify your true sources of stress, look closely at your work habits, attitude, and excuses.
The 3 Steps to managing workplace stress.
There are several strategies you can employ to manage your stress at work. There is no “one size fits all”. You can follow these 3 practical steps to begin your stress management journey
Step 1.
Start a stress journal
A stress journal can help you identify the regular stressors at your workplace/in your life and the way you deal with them. Each time you feel stressed, keep track of it in your journal. As you keep a daily log, you will begin to see patterns and common themes. Endeavor to write down:
Step 2.
Evaluate your current workplace stress coping strategies
Think about how you currently manage and cope with stress at work and in your life. Your stress journal can help you identify them. Are your coping strategies healthy or unhealthy, helpful or unproductive?
Examples of unhealthy coping mechanisms include: Smoking, drinking too much, overeating or undereating, zoning out for hours in front of the TV or computer, withdrawing from friends, family, and activities, using pills or drugs to relax, sleeping too much, procrastinating, filling up every minute of the day to avoid facing problems, taking out your stress on others (lashing out, angry outbursts, physical violence)
Step 3.
Learn and adopt healthier ways to manage work stress.
If your methods of coping with stress aren’t contributing to your greater emotional and physical health, it’s time to find healthier ones. There are many healthy ways to manage and cope with work stress, but they all require change. You can either change the situation or change your reaction. When deciding which option to choose, it’s helpful to think of the four A’s: Avoid, Alter, Adapt, or Accept.
Since everyone has a unique response to stress, there is no “one size fits all” solution to managing it. No single method works for everyone or in every situation, so experiment with different techniques and strategies. Focus on what makes you feel calm and in control.
Deal with the stressors by practicing the Four A’s
You can deal with stressful situations by:
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There are healthy and practical strategies you can adopt when dealing with your stressors viz:
?1. Avoid unnecessary stress
2. Learn how to say “no
?3. Avoid people who stress you out
4.? Take control of your
?5. Avoid hot-button topics
6.? Pare down your to-do list
7. Alter the situation
?8. Express your feelings instead of bottling them up.
9.? Be willing to compromise
10.? Manage your time better
11. Focus on the positive
12. Know that some sources of stress are unavoidable
13. Adopt Healthy ways to relax and recharge: Examples of healthy ways to relax and recharge includes:
Conclusion
Don’t get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of Lagos that you forget to take care of your own needs. Remember, nurturing yourself is a necessity, not a luxury so you must endeavor to set aside relaxation time. Include rest and relaxation in your daily schedule. Don’t allow other obligations to encroach. This is your time to take a break from all responsibilities and recharge your batteries.
Let’s DEW this!
At the DEW center, we facilitate, plan & execute workplace stress management workshops for corporates. Call +234 802 511 9405 or send us a message for more inquiries.