Signs That Work May Be Stressing You Out Too Much - Sterling Career Concepts

Signs That Work May Be Stressing You Out Too Much Signs That Work May Be Stressing You Out Too Much Stress caused by your workplace can sometimes go unnoticed, especially if you don’t know what signs to look for. Whether you’re experiencing a lot of pressure in your career or finding it difficult to deal with the pent-up stress, it’s important to address the tell-tale signs that your mental health may be suffering. April is Stress Awareness Month, making it the perfect time to reflect whether work may be stressing you out and if so, how to better manage it. Here are four common symptoms of stress: Changed Appetite If you notice a shift in your appetite, such as skipping meals or eating more than normal, stress can certainly be a contributing factor. When we skip meals, it’s likely because our priorities and/or headspace are elsewhere, and eating therefore becomes far less important to us than meeting that deadline. On the flip side, stress may make us look for comfort in food causing us to overeat. Pay attention to what you’re eating and how often, because this can turn into a negative chain reaction. Not getting the proper nutrients you need on a daily basis leads to lack of sleep, increased illness, and aches and pains. YOUR FIX - Since your diet affects your career success as well as your overall health, it’s crucial to get into healthy eating habits to make yourself feel better. Eat when you’re hungry and make sure to pack easy, healthy snacks that you can enjoy throughout the day. Plan your meals over the weekend or get your groceries delivered so you don’t have to add this as an extra chore during your work week. Your Hair is Falling Out Might feel like an odd topic to discuss, but everyone experiences hair shedding in the shower and even more often from brushing. When it starts coming out more excessively though, that’s when you should take action. Stress can disrupt the hair growth cycle causing too many hair follicles to go into the resting phase, resulting in larger clumps of hair that fall out. YOUR FIX - If you notice sudden hair thinning, it’s a good idea to go to your doctor to address what’s exactly causing it. If it is in fact stress-related, it luckily isn’t permanent and there are products that can help limit hair loss, such as shampoo that controls shedding. This is an important time to address the specific sources of stress in your life and alleviate them. For example, if it’s with too much pressure at work, learning how to delegate may be a solution. Struggle with Sleeping If you find yourself lying awake at night unable to fall asleep or have difficulty staying asleep throughout the night, this may be an indicator that you’re overwhelmed with work. On the other hand, if you find yourself sleeping too much recently, this can also be an indicator of being overworked. A change in your sleep pattern is your body’s way of telling you that you may be under too much pressure. YOUR FIX - Put your electronics down. Bringing your work home with you and immediately checking your email in the morning will make your stress worse, as well as affect your sleeping patterns. Draw a line that keeps your work and personal life separate from one another. Turn off all electronics about an hour before bed and an hour after you wake up as well. Irritability If you find yourself constantly getting bothered by every little thing and have a short temper, this may be a sign that you’re overly stressed. The feeling of being agitated can build up throughout the course of the day, reaching the point where even a small inconvenience can cause you to blow up and bite your co-worker’s head off. Irritability is typically caused by unhappiness as well as when we feel like we’ve lost control. If you realize that you have a short fuse but never understood why, stress is probably the reason. YOUR FIX - Take a time-out. No one wants to deal with an irritable person, including yourself. When stress starts to build up, one after another, it’s time to take a breather. Get outside, go for a run, read a book, or practice grounding techniques to calm your mind.