So you have made it to a high level of success in your life. Congratulations! Hopefully, you have taken the time to celebrate your accomplishments. Achieving professional success (or any other way you choose to define success) is something people strive for their entire lives. However, as the adage goes, with great power comes great responsibility—and along with that, even greater stress levels.
Being in charge, or at least on the level of the highly successful, means that you have plenty of sources of stress. To be clear: these feelings do not make you less deserving of your success. It only means you are human and should treat yourself as such. Fortunately, there are plenty of tried-and-true methods you can follow to handle the stress you have been dealt.
Keep reading to learn more about some of the tips below.
Taking a closer look at stress
So we all know stress causes us to feel, well, stressed. But what about the other effects of stress? Not only does stress leave a lasting impact on your mental health, but it also can cause physical changes to your body.
If you have been experiencing any of the following symptoms out of the blue, it may be able to be traced back to stress levels.
- Difficulty sleeping or insomnia
- Gastrointestinal issues such as constipation and nausea
- Jaw pain from grinding your teeth
- Chest pain and elevated heart rate
- Low energy
- Headaches
These physical symptoms can combine with the typical mental and emotional effects of stress, creating a very difficult time for you. Dealing with prolonged periods of stress can have lasting effects on your body and mind. This makes it very important to alleviate the stress as soon as possible. Take a few of the following steps to alleviate your overall stress levels.
Set boundaries between personal and professional
It may seem harmless to check your work email after working hours every once in a while. However, this is a very slippery slope. It is important to create a strong boundary between work and home.
Your professional life should stay on the clock and your personal time should belong to you. Once the lines between these two bleed, you remove time for you to enjoy your own life.
Find joy in your work
If you cannot find a silver lining in whatever your job is, you will probably create more unhappiness for yourself. This unhappiness can lead to irritability, which will also lead to stress.
Try to find some joy in your work, whether that is the actual work you are doing or your coworkers. Small joys throughout the day will make a big difference.
Get help if you need it
Reaching out for a helping hand is never a bad idea. If your source of stress is coming from work, be sure to delegate projects as you can. Even freeing a few minutes of peace into your workday can truly make a huge difference.
If responsibilities at home are what is causing you stress, recruit helpers to assist you with tasks. Friends and family may be happy to lend a helping hand.
If you are looking for a source of help outside your circle, reach out to a therapist, like myself. Seeking professional mental health help may be one of the best things you can do for your stress.
It allows you to be vulnerable, vent, and work through your stressors with someone who will always be there to listen to you. Please reach out to my office today if you are considering seeking professional help with anxiety therapy. I am happy to guide you through these stressful times.