Work ≠ Stress

First things first; I take a break. Taking a 5-minute breather, making a drink, or even a bathroom break, gives my body the opportunity to wind down production of the stress hormones (adrenaline & cortisol). Additionally, time away from the problem can help me see things from a different perspective upon return.

Sometimes I take a break and ring my partner. Stepping outside of my work brain and laughing at a joke or venting for a moment, releases the hold that stress can have on your thoughts. I might also talk to a colleague about their day, or the latest movie, or board game, this gives me a break from how I’m feeling.

I love lists. When I feel overwhelmed by my work load, emails pinging at me, phone calls, the already mounting to do pile. I write up a list of what needs to be done and then prioritise it. Additionally, if I identify a job that someone else could do, I pass it on. This breaks things down into manageable tasks.

Discussing mental health is still something that is stigmatised; but it should be discussed just as easily as we discuss the state of coffee supplies. My mother passed away last year and though difficult I wrote to my managers about the problems I was having returning to work and feeling overwhelmed. They helped me ease back into the role and were understanding about the long-term impact.