How do people maintain high stress jobs with their lives?
I've always been a hard worker, and I don't plan to stop that. I know life is going to get harder so I wanted some techniques or plans that could help me better organize myself. #organizational-development #high-stress
4 answers
Melisa’s Answer
Great question and I’m sure you are not the only one with this on your mind. I have found it helpful to prioritize, as others shared here. For me, faith and family come first. A great work ethic, showing up on time, doing your job well and exceptionally and being a strong team player can help you in many ways. If you work well with your team, if you need help, or when you are away from the office, your team will be willing to cover for you too if you can return the favor for them.
I use my phone to schedule reminders and block times on my calendar for reading, studying, eating lunch or exercising. Make time for yourself so you can do what you need to do that works best for managing stress. If you don’t start there, it will be harder to perform and function in other areas of your life.
On days where it is particularly hectic or stressful for me, I try to take mini-breaks and just step away for a few minutes and walk up and down stairs, or sit in a dark room and just breathe or meditate, sit or walk outside if it’s nice, etc. Chandana shared in her in answer “Family comes first.” A fantastic reminder. I have a younger brother who lives in another state, but we stay close and talk often. Sometimes, I’ll step away for a minute and call him. Talking with him makes me laugh and often takes my mind off a stressful day or situation.
Thanks for your question and best wishes for success in your future goals.
Melisa recommends the following next steps:
Rachel Resnick
Rachel’s Answer
You have to find work-life balance and manage your time well. In order to manage stress you have to manage your time wisely. <span style="background-color: transparent;">You have to set a routine for yourself and stick to it for the most part. Once you get into the groove of a routine it will be much easier for you to manage your time and have enough time for everything you need to do (including relaxing). Make yourself to-do lists on a weekly basis, use Google calendar or a planner to keep track of events, deadlines, and due dates. In addition to setting a routine and sticking to it, plan out relaxing activities into your day. Or set aside a time, after everything is done for the day, that you can have "me" time. I have also personally found it essential to not only find time for myself but also make use of that time in a way that is best for me and my holistic wellness. I have found the HeadSpace app to be an essential tool in helping me relax and generally feel more relaxed throughout the day, Guided meditation, even if you have a busy schedule, will make you feel more at ease and relaxed throughout the day as a whole (not just when you have the time to relax and focus on that "me" time).</span>
<span style="background-color: transparent;">Set a routine.Use Google Calendar.Set aside Me TimeWrite weekly to-do lists and use a planner.Find a peaceful and restful activity that will help you feel relaxed.</span>
Chandana’s Answer
Moises - It's great to know that you are a hard worker and are willing to continue to put in the effort in your life! I am a hard worker myself and had challenges in the past managing my stress levels with a new born baby and a full-time job. However, I was able to overcome that by doing the following -
- Prioritize the work that needs to be done. Working smarter tends to make you twice more productive than working harder.
- Set aside sometime for yourself everyday - Add physical exercise and meditation to your daily agenda.
- Family comes first
- Eat healthy
Rachel’s Answer
1. Self care outside of work (exercise, meditation, something to look forward to like planning a vacation or outing, plenty of downtime for reading)
2. Small breaks during work (lunch, time to breathe)
3. Positive self-talk (I can do this!)
4. Perspective (I can only do what I can do. What are the consequences if this doesn't get done?)
5. Prioritization (acting with urgency!)
6. Adaptability (if it doesn't work, try something new - so many articles and resources out there for managing stress)