Today’s post is written by Abby Watters, Humanergy’s Logistics Associate. 

Stress is something we all have to navigate at one time or another. Whether it’s work-related or just life getting in the way, stress can be a monster that makes you think and act in scary ways. In college, I was so stressed about everything I had to do, yet I still found myself doing nothing, staring at the wall for a good twenty minutes. Then I would feel guilty, thinking of everything I should have been doing in those precious minutes. Stress can quickly spin out of control if you don’t learn how to manage it correctly.

Actually, my staring-at-the-wall times were a clue. When you feel stressed, it’s important to take a couple of minutes and just breathe. I know that’s probably the last thing you want to do when you have a billion other things to get done, but trust me! A couple minutes of quiet can give you a little clarity in the whirlwind of life.

After you catch your breath, make a list. Making a list allows you to prioritize everything you need to do. You can also write down how long you think each task will take. Sometimes that helps you realize that there are enough hours in a day, and everything is going to be just fine. (Or you can get your head around what’s realistic, if you’ve estimated 263 hours of work for the day!) The real payoff is crossing things off. Doesn’t that always feel great?

I’ve been doing a lot of traveling lately, and as many know, traveling can be stressful! You have to make sure everything at work is taken care of, but while you’re at work, you’re thinking of everything you have to do at home to get ready for the trip. It’s a vicious cycle! I just have to remind myself that without work, I wouldn’t have the opportunity to take these trips.

When stress threatens to spoil your day, try to keep perspective. Take a moment to think about what you are grateful for – all of the wonderful things in your life. Suddenly that to-do list isn’t so daunting, it’s a little easier to breathe and that stress monster doesn’t look so scary anymore.

 

Need some help taming the stress monster? Tell us what it’s up to!

Photo from Dollar Photo Club.