I’ve Had Enough, So Have You
Let’s explore how we can get back on track
I’ve had enough. I mean, haven’t we all at one point or another? Long hours of sitting at our desks pretending to get that work we should be doing done. There’s a reason why “Office Space” resonates with us. It’s about time we do something about it, and no, I don’t mean beating up a printer while listening to the Geto Boys.
Why are we so stressed?
Work is one of the biggest reasons we find ourselves stressed. A survey conducted by Korn Ferry found 76% of their 2,000 participants felt that work stress impacted their relationships. Not only that, but 16% said they had to leave a job due to stress. That’s 320 people that have quit their jobs because they couldn’t deal with the stress involved.
With the past year of dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, stress is more prevalent than ever. The American Psychological Association found that 8 out of 10 adults think the pandemic has become a significant stressor. So now, we aren’t just stressed about work, we are stressed about just living!
Even online, the constant barrage of negativity across our social media feeds leads can have us concerned about the world around us. Everywhere you look, there’s a headline about another terrible event. It’s easy to become fatigued by the influx of what seems like daily tragedies.
In short, we are stressing about everything — work, school, politics, disasters, and even just life.
Why recognizing it matters
Stress can have several negative impacts on our well-being, both mentally and physically, if left unchecked.
Often stress throws our body into overdrive trying to handle the situation and triggers the “fight or flight” response. For instance, when you are late for something because of a traffic jam, doesn’t that just make your “blood boil?” That phrase coincides with the feeling of our blood pressure and heart rate increasing in heated and stressful moments.
Physically, stress can manifest itself in various ways. Sometimes you may have a tension headache, making you feel like something is squeezing your head. Other times, you may have muscle aches that seemingly appear out of nowhere. It also may cause indigestion, leading to heartburn. Extreme stress can even cause you to have a difficult time breathing and lead to panic attacks.
You might have heard someone say that they’re a “stress eater,” that’s because stress can lead us to indulge in habits that otherwise we wouldn’t. Some people may see an increase in how much they smoke or consume alcohol since many use them as coping mechanisms. Over time, these habits could lead to long-term health issues.
By recognizing when and why we are stressed can help us to deal with it proactively.
How you can help fix it
Take a break from work for a moment. Stand up, and do something else for a bit. Even a short one can help improve your health.
Maybe go outside for a while. Spending time in nature has been proven to benefit well-being. However, that also depends on how accessible that is for you. Regardless, even just taking a short walk or jog in the neighborhood could help. Exercise is one of the tried and true methods of relieving stress.
If you are stuck inside, you can work on meditation, yoga, or learning breathing techniques. Each one has positive benefits outside of helping with stress. It can be awkward at first, but you will start to see improvements the more you practice them.
You can also build a network of people you trust to talk to about what’s going on. When something has you stressed, talking it out with someone can often help lighten the load. It never hurts to have someone to call when you need to rant about a tough day. Research has shown that a strong support network is a vital part of mental well-being.
One of the more difficult things you can do is finding “me time.” However, finding that alone time can certainly help. It may seem easy on paper, but often we have issues with setting aside time for ourselves. Whether it’s calling out of work for a mental health day, or getting a babysitter and just watching some movies on the couch, find time to do the things you want.
There are many methods of relieving stress. What matters is finding what works for you. Once you find your strategy to help ease stress, start building your daily routine. Having a daily routine can help keep you on track even when not dealing with stress. Here a few ideas from Mental Health First Aid if you aren’t sure where to get started finding yours.
Wrapping things up
Stress has become more commonplace over the last year as things always seem to be getting worse. Finding and fixing it is imperative to our well-being. If we don’t, then it can lead to both short-term and long-term serious health issues. Finding a method to relieve stress doesn’t have to be a challenge. Whether that’s getting outside for a bit or just finding time to watch a good movie, it’s a matter of figuring out what works for you. The most important person in your life is you, take care of them.
