Stress seems to be a permanent feature of modern living. We all have to deal with a certain amount of stress in our lives, but too much stress or prolonged periods of stress can leave you feeling exhausted mentally and physically. It can affect your sleep, your health, your relationships and at times, it can be overwhelming. And one of the main contributors to your stress levels may be your job. With deadlines to meet, the phone constantly ringing, meeting after meeting and emails to reply to, it’s no wonder you may feel frazzled and close to burnout.

Here are a few tips for managing your stress levels to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

Look out for the signs

The first thing you need to do if you are feeling stressed is to recognise the feelings you are having, and not to just carry on regardless and hope they will go away. Listen to your body. Are you feeling fatigued? Are you getting regular headaches or struggling to get a good night’s sleep? Have you lost your appetite or are you eating unhealthy food more often? Do you sweat more than usual or have a rapid heartbeat? These may all be signs that stress is getting the better of you. The sooner you recognise the symptoms, the sooner you can take back control and find ways to cope better.

Time management

Sometimes, your stress levels are affected by how organised you are. If you organise your work time more efficiently, you will prevent the feeling that you are constantly behind and chasing your tail. Have a clear structure to your day, plan out your day and week so you have a clear idea about what you can achieve. And be realistic. Just because you think something needs doing, don’t just add it to your list. Have a realistic approach to your time, so you can feasibly get everything done that you set out to do, thus reducing feelings of stress.

Adjust your expectations

Sometimes, you may take things on, even if they’re not your responsibility. Or your role may be unclear, so you just end up doing everything. Speak to your line manager at work about what you are expected to do and if you are the boss, don’t try to do everything yourself – delegate tasks so you can realistically achieve your targets and keep your stress levels in control.

Switching off from work

With emails, Slack and WhatsApp, it may seem like you have to be constantly switched on for work. This can leave you feeling that you never have the chance to relax and unwind. Making sure you have a clear cut off point with work will allow you to process your day, switch off from work and spend some time focusing on you. This could be cooking with your partner, participating in your hobbies, playing with your children or just relaxing with a book.

There are many other things you can do to manage your work related stress levels. But if you feel exhausted, overwhelmed and unable to cope, speaking to a professional can really help.

If you feel that your stress levels are unmanageable and you need some support, Psychotherapy Surbiton can help you find ways to cope with your stress and restore balance to your life.