Sometimes unforeseen circumstances hinder our daily tasks. These happen to everyone at some point in their life. But it can be tough to get back to work and pretend as if nothing happened. You need to ensure that the stress of the situation in the past does not hinder your present or future in a negative way. To look at how to do it first let’s look at what stress is and what causes stress.
What is stress?
Stress is your body’s natural response to challenging or changing situations in the form of psychological or mental discomfort. Everyone encounters stress in one way or the other in life. You may face stress when you go to work in a new place or get more workload than usual. The way you handle the stress is the determining factor for its impacts.
What causes stress?
The cause of stress is different for everyone along with the way they deal with it. When your body interprets something as a threat it triggers a stress response. The cause for stress maybe be:
Internal stressors:
These are the stressors that stem from within us. In the workplace it may include things like perfectionism and unrealistic personal expectations.
External stressors:
These are the external situations that happen in your life or in your environment. They include things like moving to a new place, getting a new job, organizational changes, etc.
How can stress affect you?
Stress can be visible in various ways in our life. It can manifest itself as physical symptoms as well as subtle mental forms. Some of the most common ways we can see it in ourselves is:
Physical symptoms
- Headache
- Upset stomach
- Sleep issues
- Dizziness
Emotional symptoms
- Anxiety and worry
- Lack of motivation
- Anger
- Irritability
Behavioral symptoms
- Change in behavior
- Lack of concentration
- Procrastination
- Restlessness
Difference between stress and burnout:
Many people confuse burnout and stress. While they are interrelated, stress is generally short term but burnout is the result of unrelenting, long term stress. Stress is more manageable than burnout but ignoring it for a long time can lead to burnout.
How does stress affect work?
When we think about mental health we often overlook stress. As the above mentioned symptoms manifest in our body, not only do they impact our health, they also hinder our day to day life including work. So how exactly does stress effect work?
- Decreased productivity
- Low motivation
- Burnout
- Decreased job satisfaction
- Physical Health and mental health problems
How to return to work after a stressful situation?
While the stressful situation may be overcome within a certain timeframe it is essential to know just how to manage it. Neglecting it for long can lead to serious health issues. So here are 7 tips to help you return to work after a stressful situation:
1. Ease into the tasks
Don’t try to do it all at once after you resume work. Look at your daily obligations and prioritize the urgent ones. If there are no urgent tasks with deadlines approaching soon, then you can start with the easier tasks. This will help to build a rhythm and make you more relaxed while tackling more challenging tasks.
2. Social Support
During these times it is normal to be overwhelmed. Talking to other people and expressing your concerns can help lower the sense of restlessness. This is also essential in order to improve productivity along with team dynamics.
3. Work-life balance
Balancing work and personal life ensures time for recovery and rest. Similarly spending time with your friends and family can reduce the feeling of isolation and create a support system during stressful times.
4. Maintain a routine
Lack of routine may cause you to be confused and that makes it easy to slip into old habits and patterns. When you have a routine it acts as a way to shift your focus from all the problems you encountered into the tasks that actually matter.
5. Accept the situation
Maybe the real reason why you’re getting stressed about everything is because you are yet to accept the situation. Most times when we are in the phase of denial it leads to more frustration. When you have finally accepted the things beyond your control only then you can deal with the consequences.
6. Reframe your mindset
A positive and realistic mindset makes it easier to think clearly while looking for a solution. Challenges often lead to growth and opportunities. Reframing the stressful situations as an opportunity to grow can lead to lowered anxiety and frustration.
7. Work smarter not harder
Unnecessary effort can cause even more frustration as it may cause you to waste time on low impact tasks. This can lead to less accomplishment which is demotivating. So make sure you work smartly and prioritize tasks that actually matter to avoid wasting time and effort.
Everyone encounters stress in one form or the other. Make sure you manage it properly so that it can help you move forward rather than holding you back. If you are having a hard time to navigate stress on your own you should consider visiting a professional.
