If your job is stressful...

[Poblano]

...how do you switch off and relax?

I'm currently working in a role that is causing me quite a lot of stress, mostly things beyond my control. The work itself isn't stressful but the environment is.

I'm trying to get a transfer to a different team in the new year, but it will take a while. In the meantime I need to find a way of switching off from work in the evening and at weekends. I'm stressed all the time and it's really impacting my whole life.

I have 2 weeks of leave over Christmas and really want to build up my resilience and cope better with the stress. But I'm not sure where to start.

If you work in stressful environment, how do you cope?

I try and protect myself from the environment as much as possible. Stay physically away, take breaks.
Have a transition time. If you wfh walk around the block, turn off your computer and put it in a drawer. If you have a proper commute use that time to switch, I used to have a specific pub which when I passed was time to leave work.

Then plan a lot of things out of work time. Give yourself enough time to regroup but have other things that distract you.
For example have Friday night to decompress and then get out Saturday morning to something else.

Good luck

I have a strict work/life balance so when I home I can focus on my family. My work also pays into a mental health service where we can access counselling etc if we needed. I’m a big talker too. If I’m having a bad, sad or stressful day I do find it easier to just say but appreciate not everyone is like that!

I try and build walking into my work commute ( or round the block if wfh) and listen to detective novels on Audible, helps to context switch from work.

Hey . My job shouldn’t be stressful but I find the set up/ support etc stressful. I feel better about it by trying to make the most of non work time. Making plans with family, friends, exercising etc etc.

Thanks all.

I used to have a really good routine, swimming several times a week before work and going out for a walk at lunchtime. But as I've become more stressed about work I've had a lot less motivation to do any of these things. I'm also not sleeping well and feel too tired to do things outside of work. I suspect I may actually be slightly depressed.

I guess this Christmas break is an opportunity to reset some of those good habits. But it's proving really difficult to switch off.