Try setting up a priority list at the beginning of your work week by preparing tasks and ranking them according to importance. Another way of prioritizing sleep is to use habit-building apps, which can help you mode-switch from work to rest time. Fabulous is one of the best habit-building https://ecosoberhouse.com/ apps, as it helps you create life-changing habits through bite-sized steps. Using night lamps or playing white noise can also help you develop stronger sleep habits. You can integrate the functionality of these devices with your Alexa sleep routines for better implementation.

Although coffee has health benefits in moderation, it’s recommended to keep caffeine intake under 400 mg daily, which equals 4–5 cups (0.9–1.2 L) of coffee. They noted that regular journaling may be linked to a higher quality of life, more proactive self-care behaviors, and other healthful behaviors, such as taking prescribed medications. You might not be able to do everything perfectly, every time—especially in a busy, fast-paced job. A good strategy to avoid the perfectionism trap is always striving to just do your best and making time to congratulate yourself on your efforts. You may find that your results are better and you’ll be much less stressed at work.

Ways to Cope With Work Stress and Avoid Burnout

So take a coffee break with a friend, email a relative or visit your place of worship. Eating a healthy diet is an important part of taking care of yourself. Almost any form of physical activity can act as a stress reliever. Even if you’re not an athlete or you’re out of shape, destress after work exercise can still be a good stress reliever. Working with a therapist can help you better identify the sources of your work stress and help you come up with ways to better navigate them. They can also help you develop strategies for decompressing and taking care of yourself.

• Furthermore, it’s essential to set boundaries to show yourself the self-love you deserve.
• Another surprising stressor at work is physical discomfort, often related to where you perform most of your daily tasks (such as your desk).
• With all the new stressors impacting each one of us, we now more than ever have to take proactive steps to lift ourselves so we can better lift each other.

But it can help you feel better, even if you have to force a fake laugh through your grumpiness. Laughter fires up and then cools down your stress response. The problem is that this can magnify stress levels so that they are even higher after the commute home than they were at the end of the workday. If this sounds like you, now is the time to take the reigns and make your commute a time to shrug off the stress of the day. In the coming week, try to really notice your thoughts and habits as you drive home if you’re not already aware of them.

Try the emotional freedom technique (EFT)

While smartphones, computers, and tablets are often necessary, using them too often may increase stress levels. Your diet affects every aspect of your health, including your mental health. Hosted by therapist Amy Morin, LCSW, this episode of The Verywell Mind Podcast shares how you can change your mindset to cope with stress in a healthy way.

When you’re stressed and irritable, you may want to isolate yourself. Instead, reach out to family and friends and make social connections. Do your best to use commute time as a “transition time,” during which you reset and refocus. Think of it as having some “me-time” to prepare for what you are going to walk into when you get home. On May 19, 2022, Verywell Mind hosted a virtual Mental Health in the Workplace webinar, hosted by Editor-in-Chief Amy Morin, LCSW. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.