Life can be full of surprises, and we all face challenges from time to time.
Sometimes stress at work can come in the form of a tight deadline, a project coming to an end or a challenging situation between different people on site.
If not managed or addressed stress can impact your mental health and relationships both on and offsite, making it tricky to navigate.
There is no perfect solution but there are things you can do to help you handle stressful events when they come up.
Here are some strategies Incolink recommends for a healthy mind and body.
How to set yourself up for success
There are some things you can build into your routine that will help keep your mind healthy.
Move your body after work
You’re active all day everyday but exercise after work can help release stress. Things like lifting weights, yoga, boxing or going for a 30-minute walk all help set you up to manage any stressful situations that come your way.
The body holds stress and when you exercise you are releasing the stress from your body reducing the feeling of stress.
Prioritise
Sometimes we can look at a long list of things to do and feel overwhelmed. Breaking big jobs down into small steps can help make it feel more manageable.
To help prioritise tasks there are a few questions you can ask yourself
Does this need to be done today or can it be done next week? What is the most important task on my list?
Having a list in the notes app on your phone or on paper can help visualise what’s left and you can look forward to the hit of dopamine each time you tick something off.
Check in with yourself
Sometimes we can get caught up in the moment and forget to think about how we’re looking after ourselves. Take some time think about how much sleep you’re getting, how hydrated you are and what type of content you’re consuming. Whether it be on social media, reading books or listening podcasts. If you like reading you could consider picking up a personal development book next time.
Prevention over cure is the way to go when it comes to handling stress.
The more mentally resilient you are prior to stressful situations occurring the less a stressful event will impact you.
When you find yourself in a stressful situation
Sometimes stressful situations are unavoidable, it can be helpful to have some strategies in place to help you get through them.
Take three breaths before reacting to a situation or comment it’s our reaction that gets us into trouble most times. Taking a few seconds to collect your thoughts will help you to respond rather than react.
Ask yourself the question: ‘What can I control?’ Letting go of what you can’t control is a great way to prevent you from getting worked up.
If the mind feels that it has some control, it will feel safe. The best thing you can control is your own reaction and response.
Gain perspective over the situation.
Ask yourself, ‘Is this situation going to affect me in 1 year?’ If the answer is no, let it go. If the answer is yes, then some deeper support like counselling may be a good idea.
There is no shame in taking a two-minute breather, away from the situation to clear your head.
Creating physical space between yourself and the challenging environment you’re in, also creates mental space, allowing you to come back with a fresh perspective.
Support is available
Asking for help can be difficult but there is no shame in seeking support. For more information you can visit droptheact.com.au
