People across the U.S. are stressed out. According to the American Psychological Association, 24% of adults rate their stress at eight, nine, or 10 out of 10. That’s up from 19% of adults in 2019.
While many things stress people out, things like work, colleagues, and the workplace are primary issues. That’s especially true for people who don’t speak up and tackle problems head-on. Some issues can be rectified by talking to the relevant parties or setting realistic boundaries.
If stress is driving you nuts and you need a way to unwind and regain control of your life, there are things you can do. Continue reading to see five ways to lessen stress when your job is taking over your life.
- Find a Hobby
According to one survey, around six in 10 Americans — 59% — picked up a new hobby during the COVID-19 pandemic. People had more free time and were more stressed out than usual, so it made sense to use that time productively and destress. The sky’s the limit when considering different hobbies. You can learn to play an instrument, bake, sing, and more.
One popular hobby enjoyed by billions – yes, that’s “billions” – is gaming. There could be 3.32 billion gamers worldwide, according to one source. So, gaming is worth checking out if you’ve never tried it.
But if you wish to get the most out of your gaming time, consider buying a laptop for gamers. A good gaming laptop has high-end components and specs designed to enhance the gaming experience in a way other laptops can’t.
- Achieve Better Work-Life Balance
A good work-life balance is a mysterious or unachievable goal for many. It’s no wonder when considering how overworking is lauded in society. One source says that 48% of employees refer to themselves as “workaholics,” and 60% of U.S. employees say they have zero boundaries between job responsibilities and life. It seems the problems run deep.
If the goal is to avoid unnecessary stress, you must do a good job of achieving a better work-life balance. It’s sometimes difficult to do so if you work from home since the place you live in is also the place you work in. But you won’t get control of your life if you don’t achieve a good balance.
Tips for achieving a good work-life balance include — but aren’t limited to — setting boundaries, taking breaks, setting and sticking to specific work hours, getting a flexible work schedule, and prioritizing mental and physical health.
- Get Enough Exercise
Getting at least two-and-a-half hours of moderate-to-vigourous-intensity aerobic physical activity weekly is vital. That’s the minimum. You’ll get even more benefits by upping the total to 300 minutes — which is a good idea if you want to lose some weight or keep off the weight you lose.
Don’t underestimate the importance of getting enough exercise. Taking care of your physical health — which also includes eating healthy meals in proper proportions — will help. You’ll have the ability to deal with stress more effectively.
- Get Enough Quality Shut-Eye
According to WebMD, adults require seven to nine hours per night, while some might function okay on six hours and others might need up to 10 hours. A chronic lack of sleep can lead to severe health problems like heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, high blood pressure, obesity, and more. Feeling tired all the time will also make it hard to deal with stress.
- Avoid Unnecessary Stress
You can’t eliminate all stress in your life — but you should eliminate any unnecessary stress. If there are toxic people in your life, find a way to put some distance between you and them. It might be necessary to change jobs or even relocate. The key is to know what stress is part of life and what stress is not so that you can eliminate unnecessary issues.
If dealing with stress, consider these five suggestions. You might even want to speak to a therapist should you find the stress to be overwhelming. Don’t forget, however, that there are ways to better deal with stressful situations and to have a higher quality of life.
