Every field of work seems to have a time of year that is busier than others. For retail businesses, it tends to be around major holidays, like Christmas. Construction workers usually have a lot to do during the warmer months, from spring to fall. Accountants, like us at MBS, are mostly “full speed ahead” from January to April due to tax season.
When work is so busy you can hardly sit back to catch your breath, how do you manage to cope without getting burnt out? Before you start pulling out your hair, biting your nails, or breathing into a paper bag… Let’s look at five healthy ways to manage stress and reduce your cortisol levels during “busy seasons” of work.
1. Schedule Breaks For Yourself
Put an event in your calendar during the day to step away from work to do something you enjoy. For example, plan a 15 or 30 minute break to go for a walk, get some coffee, read part of your book, or work on a knitting project. Taking time away to decompress will allow you to go back to work with a refreshed sense of purpose and renewed energy.
2. Set Priorities At Work
Break tasks down into smaller, manageable steps and prioritize them based on importance and deadlines. Write these tasks down on a to-do list to keep you on schedule. This can help you focus on what truly matters and reduce stress triggered by feeling scattered or unorganized.
3. Exercise Regularly
Physical activity is one of the most effective ways to reduce stress. Exercise releases endorphins, which are chemicals in the brain that act as natural painkillers and mood elevators. Whether it’s taking a walk, doing yoga, or hitting the gym, making time for an exercise routine that you enjoy can significantly reduce stress levels. We even found a number of activities you can do to keep active right at your desk!
4. Implement Relaxation Techniques
When you feel yourself getting tense and stressed at work, experiment with different relaxation techniques. You can try deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, or listening to calming music, to name a few. These techniques can help activate the body’s relaxation response, counteracting the physiological effects of stress and promoting a sense of calm.
5. Enforce Boundaries
With modern technology comes the pressure of feeling like you are available to your job 24/7. Learning to say no and drawing a boundary line between work and your personal life can prevent you from feeling resentful to your job and inducing stress that can come with work/personal life conflicts. This might look like not checking your work communications on weekends, or choosing a “hard-stop” time to be done working in the evenings.
Everyone has a different response to the pressure and stress of being busy at work, so keep in mind what works for your colleague may not work for you! Experiment with different strategies and be patient with yourself as you learn what helps you manage stress effectively.
At the end of the day, your well-being matters more than your work. Remember, a job is a part of your life, but your health affects all aspects of your life. Taking care of your physical health and mental well-being should be most important!