Back to work stress-busting tips

RPower · Jan 4, 2016

Whether you've been working non stop through the festive season or are just back to work today, January can be a bit stressful.

What I'd like to know is, how do you get through the month and get back 'into the swing of things' as it were? And what do you want to achieve this year?

Bill1954 · Jan 4, 2016

I sat in my office chair this morning, gave a huge sigh of relief, and thought "Thank God that's over for another year". That thought will keep me happy throughout January.
Xmas ??? HUMBUG

john1989 · Jan 4, 2016

I work in accounts.

I have come back to running the usual month end procedures to produce the management accounts. My employer thought this would be a good time for us to test our upgraded accounts package. So every routine has to be done in a live system and a test system.

But it gets better…

They want the new system implemented before our year end on 31st March but we have to do X amount of testing before the new system goes live. So at some point mid February we will be running two month end in the same month, and in both the live system and test system.

I plan on getting through this by knuckling down and getting on with the job (whilst swigging strong coffee). I will recuperate and destress by having several beverages each weekend during, and after this period of madness.

RPower · Jan 4, 2016

@Bill1954 At least you're happy!

@john1989 That sounds very stressful... the weekend beverages may be well earned!

I've gone for a 'fresh start' approach or clearing everything on my plate and starting again with a new to-do list. That plus not setting any major New Years Resolutions is helping me ease in 2016 relatively well (so far...)

Mr A P Davies · Jan 4, 2016

Something I'm struggling with.
Don't want to face it, but I'm going to have to.
What doesn't help is the short days and the constant rain.
Oh for the long warm days of summer............

Just need to get all my kit done up, my truck done up, and a few interior decorating projects done, so I don't have to deal with it when I get really busy.

KM-Tiger · Jan 4, 2016

Mr A P Davies said:
What doesn't help is the short days ...

Know what you mean. Somehow short days before Christmas are OK but in Jan and Feb very depressing

I just long for Mar when there will be a glimmer of hope.

estwig · Jan 4, 2016

I just take it out on builders, in the scheme of things they don't count anyway!!

toastking · Jan 4, 2016

Get a better job? Worked for me!

Now feel the freedom of a more suitable job and being able to work in my own projects out of hours as I don't feel so stressed by things I cannot control any more. It's been a nice side effect thats bled into other areas of my life.

UKSBD · Jan 4, 2016

I switched off the registration form on my directory and made new registrations by email invite only.

I've got to decide now whether to sit and reply to 300+ emails and send them a link to the secret registration page, or just pretend I didn't receive them and start from scratch again in the morning

It will certainly be more stress busting to delete them all.

SOS Offices · Jan 4, 2016

2016 is a new year and the start of my new business, starting the year off determined and motivated. Hopefully it will be a success.

ProfessionalPainters · Jan 5, 2016

Everyone has a stressful life. Whether you are a CEO and owner of a huge company, or a worker in it. Just strive to find 3 or 4 good things in the day, that you already know when you wake up. For example, going out with friends, cooking a dinner for you family, going to the cinema. Find little things that can bring you up throughout the day. This is my technique!

fisicx · Jan 5, 2016

ProfessionalPainters said:
Everyone has a stressful life.

I don't.

Most stress is self generated. All you need to do is let the stressful things flow past, do a bit of mindfullness and stress becomes a thing of the past.

RPower · Jan 5, 2016

@fisicx That's something I want to do a lot more of this year. What're your tips for getting into mindfulness?

john1989 · Jan 5, 2016

It's a fine line between stress and pressure.

Handling pressure well avoids stress.

I think many of us use the term stress, when we should be using the term pressure.

Pish_Pash · Jan 5, 2016

There's no stress here at all - I guess that's the big difference between working for someone else (as I did until a couple of years ago) .... & working for myself as I do now. Indeed I find it less stressful now that everything is back to normal & the 'stupid-fest' that is Xmas is now in the rear view mirror.

JEREMY HAWKE · Jan 5, 2016

The more Christmases and new years you see the less you notice . The more stress you get the the less effect it has (if it has not got you before)
The older you get the less you worry

ProfessionalPainters · Jan 5, 2016

Well, yeah. Sometimes being calm in a stressful situation is a gift. I have people in my life that handle everything that way - they're just that kind of people. And I'm the complete opposite. I'm pretty sure, though, that this is something you can overcome.

AllUpHere · Jan 5, 2016

I think the key to less stress is self confidence, and the knowledge that you can deal with any situation that will arise. If you know that whatever happens, you will be able to deal with it, a lot of pressure quickly disappears.

The worst thing you can do is avoid stressful situations all the time. The more you go through, the more you prove to yourself that you are capable of dealing with them.

In more general terms, as long as you and your family are reasonably happy and healthy, and you have sufficient funds to pay your bills, whatever you are worrying about is probably not worth the hassle.

fisicx · Jan 5, 2016

RPower said:
@fisicx That's something I want to do a lot more of this year. What're your tips for getting into mindfulness?

Make sure you have a calm place in your head you can go to. This doesn't mean ignoring problems but it gives you a moment to relax before engaging.

The other technique is to divert stressful situations. For example, if someone pushes in front of you, don't get angry. Just say hallo and smile. Being angry and stress won't reverse how they acted or stop them doing it again but smiling makes you feel better.

ldjames · Jan 5, 2016

Bill1954 said:
I sat in my office chair this morning, gave a huge sigh of relief, and thought "Thank God that's over for another year". That thought will keep me happy throughout January.
Xmas ??? HUMBUG

This. Christmas itself and that time of the year is more stressful than the return to work.

RPower · Jan 25, 2016

Thanks for all your tips! Some really helpful stuff here which I will also use myself; definitely the meditation.

I've compiled them into an article here: http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/articles/how-to-beat-back-to-work-stress.192/

I'm finding a nice cup of green tea a few times a day is really helping cool me down too - if anyone else is into that!

Mr A P Davies · Jan 25, 2016

Hmmm, Green Tea......by the gallon.
Tea bags for every day drinking, a nice Oolong after a big supper, A Japanese Sencha, to quench my thirst after a long hot day, and another one, I forget what, to drink on a quiet afternoon.

Brewed with water at exactly 80c, left to steep for just the right time, ( depends which one, personal taste) in a glass tea pot, and sipped slowly from a squeaky clean glass.
Should get a shallow ceramic cup really, but never quite got round to it.

ldjames · Jan 25, 2016

I friend shared a nice one with me...

Stand up straight, take a deep breath in and as you exhale, say, "f*ck it"

simon field · Jan 26, 2016

Some people go on the sick with 'stress', which was formerly known as 'life'

JEREMY HAWKE · Jan 26, 2016

simon field said:
Some people go on the sick with 'stress', which was formerly known as 'life'

I would not know I have never seen any life according to the new 20 something newbies on these forums . !

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Back to work stress-busting tips

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