JOG the Web: Healthy Ways to Manage Workplace Stressors
Here Are Some Tips on Overcoming Workplace Stress and Anxiety!
Workplace stressors exist for everyone in the working world, regardless of years of experience For plenty of our participants, their first job is often found through our workplace readiness programs, and they have not had the opportunity to learn how to manage these stressors. As part of the JOG curriculum, we work to make sure that participants are prepared when facing challenges that will come up in their new environment. This includes when things get stressful. Here are some healthy ways we teach our participants to manage workplace stress that can really be helpful for anyone:
– Talk to your support system:
It is important to rely on those you trust when going through a tough time at work. Nobody can do it alone, and, when you are stressed, it’s important to reach out to trusted friends, family or mentors. For our participants, one person they can always come to is their JOG Career Specialist. As part of our commitment to youth employment assistance, they may have tips on how to manage your current situation that you haven’t thought about.
– Practice mindfulness and awareness:
This practice is about focusing on the here and now. It’s goal is to help find calmness and clarity to respond to stressful situations. Some mindfulness practices include taking a moment to focus on regulating your breathing, listening to the wind or birds in silence if you are working outside, and using the 5-4-3-2-1 rule to focus on sensory things you can easily focus on.
– Develop healthy eating habits:
Eating your comfort foods can help in the short term to feel better, but they can also do the opposite and make you feel worse. The opposite is something to watch out for, as well, as not eating can also be a stress reaction. Creating healthy eating habits are a great way to ward off bad feelings that may be adding to the stress you feel. Also, staying hydrated helps with mental clarity, making it easier to navigate stressors before or when they happen.
By teaching these methods, and other healthy stress management tactics, JOG participants learn to be better employees and better advocates for themselves, which helps them be more successful in their career paths long term.