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Stress Management

Stress is a feeling we all experience when we are challenged or overwhelmed. Our hard-wired stress response is designed to give us the quick burst of heightened alertness and energy needed to perform our best. But prolonged stress can be damaging to our body (here’s a short video on how stress affects your body) and our brain (here’s another short video on how stress affects your brain).

Apart from engaging in self-care practices, we want to share some resources with you on how you could manage stress even better than you already are:

 
 
 

five tips to help manage stress

This APA article shares five healthy techniques that psychological research has shown to help reduce stress in the short- and long-term:

  1. Take a break from the stressor

  2. Exercise

  3. Smile and laugh

  4. Get social support

  5. Meditate

Another APA article highlights the effects of stress on the body. In addition to the five techniques above, getting an adequate amount of sleep each night is important, too.

Managing job stress

APA shares the following tips for dealing with stress on the job:

Make the most of workday breaks. Even 10 minutes of "personal time" will refresh your mental outlook. Take a brief walk, chat with a co-worker about a non-job topic or simply sit quietly with your eyes closed and breathe.

If you feel angry, walk away. Mentally regroup by counting to 10, then look at the situation again. Walking and other physical activities will also help you work off steam.

Set reasonable standards for yourself and others. Don't expect perfection. Talk to your employer about your job description. Your responsibilities and performance criteria may not accurately reflect what you are doing. Working together to make needed changes will not only benefit your emotional and physical health, but also improve the organization's overall productivity.