When you are stressed, your nervous system kicks in and goes into survival mode. This means that your body is under a lot of stress. It is vital that you learn the signs and know what your triggers are. You can then begin to incorporate things into your day that don’t trigger you, or help you to better manage your triggers.
You don’t want to go through life chronically stressed. This can lead to burnout and chronic health conditions. You must take care of your mind and body, especially at work. Work is one of the biggest drivers of stress, and it is something you have to do every day and is essential to keeping a roof over your head.
To help you on your journey, here are some important ways to cope with a stressful day.
#1 Recognise the signs of overload
Stress can sneak up on you without you realising. Even after sitting at your desk for 5 minutes, you might already be stressed. You shouldn’t wait for yourself to burn out before acknowledging it; it is vital that you learn the signs. This could look different for everyone, but common signs include tight shoulders, clenched jaw, frequent headaches, restlessness and irritability. When you recognise these, you can take action earlier, before it spirals into something larger.
#2 Identify triggers
Consider what is causing you stress throughout your day. You can then consider what changes you need to make in your day to help reduce triggers, and what areas you need to work on to help you improve your responses to triggers.
#3 Find something in your day that brings you comfort
For many people, having a prefilled vape kit at their desk can help them, as they know they can step out for 5 minutes whenever they feel they need to. For others, it might be taking a quick 2-minute walk outside in the fresh air. Everyone has different tools for coping, and it is important that you find what yours are. They could be different things, which you can create your toolbox for. You should consider the things that bring you comfort that you can access during the working day. You can also consider what things you can do at home to decompress from the day.
#4 Don’t bottle things up
If something is bothering you, it is important that you find an outlet. Whether it is related to work or personal life, you need to release it before it festers. If it is personal stuff, you want to find a friend or therapist you can trust to talk to, so it doesn’t overlap with your working life. The same with work issues – find someone at work you can confide in, and raise any concerns with the management team so issues get addressed. This will make your working day easier and ensure you don’t take anything home with you.
Days can be super stressful, which can activate your nervous system. If you don’t do anything about this, it can lead to health issues. Consider these top tips to help you better manage stressful days.
