3 ways to beat work-related stress

You may feel like you’re being pulled in a hundred different directions, trying to balance family life, work deadlines, financial pressures, and personal wellness. 

By identifying your priorities and taking concrete steps to take back control, you can feel better both at work and at home.

sleep on it

Sleep plays two important roles in work-life balance.

On the physical level, sleep is vital for our bodies to recharge and rejuvenate.

On the psychological level, sleep is important to maintain a positive mood and mindset as well as incorporate knowledge learned that day.

​Unfortunately, poor sleep can lead to stress, and stress can lead to poor sleep. Breaking the cycle is key. How you do that depends on what’s impairing your sleep. 

To facilitate a restful night, create an environment conducive to sleep. Tips include:

1. Setting a bedtime alarm to remind you to start getting ready for bed – you may have a goal to be in bed by 9pm, but if you’re still watching Netflix at 8:50pm, you probably won’t make that goal. Set an alarm for 8pm, and turn off your electronics, brush your teeth, wash your face, and set your phone aside.
2. Trade electronics for paper. You’ve probably heard that blue light impairs your ability to fall asleep and stay asleep. Read a book instead of surfing the web as your settling in to sleep.
3. Try bedtime meditation or keep a journal. If your mind is racing with thoughts when you try to fall asleep, try emptying your mind. For some, the focus of meditation or prayer does it. For others, keeping a journal or a piece of paper by the bedside to write down those thoughts mean you can let them go – you don’t need to worry about forgetting them. 

Learn more about how anxiety can affect your sleep from this article by Slumber Yard.

focus on productivity

In times of stress (or sleeplessness), it can be hard to focus on what needs to get done. What’s most visible at hand might make it to the top of your task list, but may not be the most urgent item. Set aside time to list out your tasks so you can prioritize later. You’ll also want a “catch-all” sheet that you can add to as items come up. 

​One way of organizing your tasks is to put together a productivity planner. You can make your own system that adapts to your needs, or try out a pre-made version.
 
Having all your tasks laid out lets you see what needs to get done and when, and helps you actually make progress. 

keep it simple

​When you are already feeling stressed it is important not to escalate it further. Keeping life as simple as you can in times of stress can help to prevent adding even more items to your to-do list and give you time to focus on yourself instead. Practice saying no, and choose to take care of yourself.