It's hard to believe it, but the year is nearly over! Where has all the time gone? Needless to say, a lot of it has been spent at work and there's no doubt that it's getting stressful, especially with the end of the year approaching rapidly.
So to try and help you manage your end-of-year stress, we've put together some tips together so that you can sign off the year in a healthy state of mind.
Regular breaks and 'chunking it' will do you good
Our brains may be information sponges, but there's a limit to how much info we can take in and process in a day. So it's no wonder you may feel overwhelmed when the tasks are piling up. The best way to avoid that is to take regular breaks and break tasks up into manageable chunks.
Schedule some 'me time' every day to clear your head, whether it's a lunchtime exercise sesh or a walk somewhere, so your brain doesn't get too overloaded. Breaking up your work into smaller chunks will help make things feel more doable and less overwhelming.
Remember to have fun
With so much happening at work, it may be easy to forget about having some time to yourself to have fun. Indulging in hobbies and activities you enjoy will help lower your stress levels, so make sure you make time for yourself and whatever it is you enjoy doing - put it in your calendar if you have to! When you make time for the things you love, it'll help your stress levels enormously and mean you're more productive when you come back to work.
While we're on the topic of having fun...
Don't forget about self-care
Some have a tendency to put their work ahead of their own health in order to get everything done, especially during the end-of-year rush. Deadlines are important but so is your health, so don't ever neglect your health and self-care. Always find time to squeeze in some exercise and 'me-time', try to maintain a healthy diet and plenty of quality sleep. After all, how are you going to produce your best work if you're not feeling at your best?
Be realistic about your expectations
People with high expectations of themselves and their work generally end up disappointed when things don't go exactly as they imagined. This is especially true when stress is high during the end of the year and the pressure to deliver mounts. To avoid this cycle of disappointment, it's important to take a step back. Drop your expectations to something a little more realistic, and tell yourself "it's okay". This doesn't mean dropping your work ethic or anything like that. It just means looking at everything with perspective and recognising what is actually manageable versus what you expect to accomplish.
Reach out if you need support
The end-of-year period can be a bit too much sometimes and you may need to reach out to someone for a bit of support. Talk to a close friend or family member about what you're going through, or consider speaking to a mental health specialist. Having a shoulder to lean on during stressful times is important and there's absolutely no shame in seeking help.
Just remember that if you need support or someone to talk to, our Sonder support team is available 24/7 to chat whenever you need it.
If you have any questions or need extra support, we're here to help you anytime in any language. Simply start a chat with us via the home screen of the Sonder app.
Information sourced from: Forbes, MeQuilibrium, Mayo Clinic, and Healthyfood.com
Image credit: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
All content is created and published for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice. Always seek the guidance of a qualified health professional.