As 2019 comes to an end, more people are sharing experiences of feeling under extra pressure throughout all areas of their life, with looming lists and goals adding a sense of panic it can be hard to overcome.
Learning how to manage stress and build resilience can help you take on the tasks required of you as you work towards the final weeks of 2019, helping you become more productive and engaged.
Research has been suggesting there are developmental activities that you can do to help you effectively build your resilience and ability to manage stress.
Invest in personal growth and development
Recruiting agents and businesses constantly talk about happier and healthier teams being more productive – this is true!
Invest in your own personal growth, and take opportunities from your employer to do the same, to help you think more creatively, plan better, and create outlets for you to succeed and siphon some stress away.
Surround yourself with the right people
Stress can be contagious, but the opposite is also true.
When one person in a team is experiencing a period of well-being in terms of mental and physical health, the effect spreads across the rest of the team – by working to improve your own wellbeing and trying not to engage too closely with pessimistic team members.
Prioritise your ‘you’ time outside of work
With people spending 40 hours a week or more, it’s easy for it to creep into other realms of your life and to find it hard to ‘switch off’ once you do leave the office.
In 2017, the French government introduced a ‘right to disconnect’ law to allow workers to escape pressure from their jobs once they were home, aware that for many the influence to stay online was coming from management.
It’s important to try to disconnect as much as possible, helping you be present and preserve your relationships outside of work – although you may not need to be as extreme as enacting a total ban on checking your emails after 5, getting into a frame of mind that acknowledges your own right to disconnect can be incredibly beneficial.
Be more empathetic
Prioritising empathy for others will help you create a habit of thinking of both sides of an issue, and also train you to do the same to yourself.
Everybody is dealing with external factors and pressures, and for many, it may take a toll on various areas of their life and work. Before reacting to issues or roadblocks that come from others, take a moment to consider what else may be happening that is adding pressure, whether it’s deadlines you may not be aware of or demanding stakeholders you don’t have visibility of.
Treating yourself with the same consideration can help you manage stress – rather than making excuses, acknowledging and accepting that you’re working alongside limitations or under pressure can help you identify the causes of internal roadblocks or feelings of anxiety.
Take time to create work/life balance
Balancing your time at work with taking moments to yourself is important – we can’t be focused on being 100% productive every minute, so designating time to get a coffee, have a nice stretch or meditation session, or even just to sit for a moment and relax will help create a less stressful version of you.
This balance is supported in some workspaces, with coworking spaces like Hub Australia providing in-house cafés, rest spaces, exercise studios, and breakout areas for every member.
If your business doesn’t have designated spaces for you to use, it may be worth investing in a nearby gym membership and blocking out times in your calendar each day to ensure you take a few minutes to regroup and manage your stress.
