For many of us, the end of the year can produce more stress at work all the other months combined. There is usually a rush to complete end of year work and reports and make plans for the coming year. Out of the office is busy as well, with Christmas shopping and social commitments filling up your schedule. Therefore, it is especially important to take steps to avoid burn-out around this time of year.
Here are some tips for handling end of year stress from the home doctor experts at House Call Doctor.
Prioritise
The best way to alleviate stress is to determine what can wait til the new year. It can be near impossible to finish every task by the end of the year, so prioritise what needs to be done and what can be postponed.
Identify stress/ pressure points
It is important to find out why you feel overwhelmed at work. Feeling out of control and under pressure is a form of emotional overloading and can trigger stress. Once you understand what triggers the stress, you can build strategies to avoid and overcome these triggers.
You will always be better prepared to cope with work stress if your mind and body are healthy. As the year comes to a close, make sure to keep hydrated, eat healthily, get enough sleep and keep up the exercise.
Have activities to look forward to
To ease your stress, plan activities that you can look forward to over Christmas and New Year. Also, plan something every day that you enjoy doing such as going for a walk, catching up with a friend after work, reading a book or listening to a podcast.
Making time for self-care is important and will help you to de-stress. Try taking ‘self-care’ breaks during your day by utilising your lunch break or packing food that will give energy to get you through the rest of the day.
Don’t suffer in silence
If your workload is unmanageable and you are not coping with the stress, arrange a time to speak with your manager or boss. They will be able to help you prioritise your tasks, and delegate your tasks to share the load. It’s also important to learn to say no if you are taking on more than you can handle.
Want to know more about how to cope with workplace stress? Find out more at Health Direct.
