April is National Stress Awareness Month. No doubt the last couple of years have been incredibly stressful for everyone, and with continued talks of a looming recession, it doesn’t appear the stress will be dissipating anytime soon. One of the great things about PR is the energy and the buzz, but that can also be overwhelming at times. When we are stressed out with work, we are less productive and our creative juices don’t flow quite as freely. In order to be at your best for yourself and those around you, you’ve got to take the time to decompress. There are lots of ways to make the workday less stressful and they are super easy to incorporate into your routine. Check out some ideas below!
Five-minute breaks
Five minutes can make all the difference in the world. Get up, stretch, go get some fresh air and take a walk outside if possible. Giving yourself the chance to think about something different can provide a “reset” and allow you to get back at it with a clearer head.
Meditation
Meditation might sound scary, but it’s so easy to do. It can be as simple as closing your eyes and taking a few deep breaths. If you want to get a little bit more adventurous, you can work on training your focus. Pay attention to your mind and when it wanders, try bringing it back to that specific moment in time.
Go “out to lunch”
Don’t eat lunch at your workspace if at all possible. Even if it’s just a few minutes, taking that time away from your computer gives your brain a rest while nourishing your body.
Create healthy boundaries
It is so important to have a healthy work/life balance. We are human beings, not superheroes, and we can’t be in two places at once — as convenient as that would be. It’s okay to turn work off at the end of the day and focus on life outside of the office. On the flip side, it’s okay to shut off any outside noise during work hours so that you can really hone in on what it is you need to get done and feel good about the work you are doing. Having this balance will help you to feel good about all of the different parts of your life.
Maintain perspective
At the end of the day, keeping perspective as to what is important to you and what fulfills you is crucial. Our work can be stressful and there are times when it might feel as though the walls are crumbling around us. In these moments try to remember what matters most and remind yourself that you will get through these hard times just as you have in the past.
Life is stressful but we are resilient, and with a little bit of time and energy we can manage our stress and continue to kick ass at our work. Take some time this month to focus on your stress levels and try some of the above tips to work through it. You’ve got this!