🤯 “I’m very busy”
😓 “I don’t know if I can…”
😔“…”
These are some of the phrases I’ve used when I’ve felt overwhelmed, stressed and unable to cope with the demands of my busy job in the past. (The last one being silence, most often used by not responding to emails…) Other people may also encounter stress in colleagues through anger and frustration – a harsh tone or ‘being told off’… 😡 Not my ‘go to’ in the workplace, but it does – I’m afraid to say – sometimes raise its ugly head at home (in me, I hasten to add!)
This month is🔹 Stress Awareness Month🔹 so I thought it might be helpful to share some of my reflections on the topic this week.
1️⃣ Recognize your triggers and your response. Your triggers may be coming back from a long weekend with 500+ emails in your inbox; your response to that may be feeling overwhelmed, complaining about it to others, and hiding away from dealing with it, or ‘getting on top of it’. Observe what is happening around you, and notice how you feel about it. Only with that level of awareness can you start to explore how to improve things for you.
2️⃣ Occasional stress can be manageable, unhealthy stress will kill you. Lack of sleep, racing heart, eating unhealthy food are some of the more common impacts of stress, but research shows that chronic stress can lead to depression, addiction, anxiety and high blood pressure.
3️⃣Building resilience isn’t a one-stop shop. It’s a bit like going to the gym: Going once and running 5k, won’t make you a runner. You need to go regularly, start small and build it up, into a healthy habit. It’s no good practicing mindfulness only when you feel like crying (or shouting). Yes, a quick breathing exercise in the moment can help, but to really avoid that chronic stress, your approach needs to be holistic and long-term too.
4️⃣ It’s not all on you. Really. It’s not. If you are regularly suffering from your stressors, you will become chronically ill. Yes, there’s a lot you can do to maintain strong, bounce back, don’t let it get to you, BUT in many situations for most people, stress will not dissolve, unless the stressor is removed.
5️⃣When you're caught in a situation where it feels like nothing can be changed, it's understandable to feel overwhelmed and stuck. The weight of an unhappy job can be truly awful, leaving you with little hope that anything can be changed. From my experience working with people in demanding and stressful jobs though, I've seen first-hand how even in the hardest challenges, the possibility for change can exist and grow.
I've seen how simply having someone to talk to, someone who listens without judgment, can create a space for new perspectives to emerge. Through conversation and reflection, we can - together - begin to challenge the assumption that our circumstances are unchangeable. It may seem daunting to even think about making a change in the face of adversity, but I've seen it happen—it's possible.
So, if you find yourself feeling trapped, I encourage you to reach out to someone you trust. Take a moment to consider this: what if some of the assumptions you're holding about your situation aren't entirely true? What if there's a path forward that you haven't yet considered?
Even if it's just a flicker of hope, hold onto it. That tiny spark of possibility has the potential to ignite profound transformation. Be courageous enough to ask for help, to seek guidance, and to explore new possibilities. You deserve a chance at a happier, more fulfilling life. 💙
💙 If you have found this has brought up a lot of difficult feelings for you, you may want to talk to someone. The Samaritans is there for everyone. Call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org
💙 If you feel that urgent help isn’t needed, but you’d like to talk about how you can change your situation at work, then I’m here to help. Let’s talk
👋 I am Cécile Jenkins
✨ Founder of Working Life and Executive Life Coach
💪 Giving people in busy jobs their mental fitness and wellbeing back
💫 So they can feel energetic and purposeful again – at work and at home.
🔔 Call, text or WhatsApp me on + 44 (0)7379 149470
🌍 Or find out more at workinglife.co.uk
💙 I look forward to hearing from you.