What to Do When You Are Stressed, Exhausted or Overwhelmed at Work?

You know when you are stressed at work, uninspired, frustrated or mentally blocked and you push through because… well it’s work. Only to find that maybe you are not performing your best work, or you feel resentful or completely depleted?

Yeah, why do we do that?

Because we are a society that is programmed to hustle and push ourselves even if it goes against our wellbeing. Here are a few ways to find a more balanced approach to help you save your energy and produce better work.

Ways to Take Breaks

Take a 30 minute to 60 minute walk
Use your lunch break to actually break from work. I know when we have a project or a deadline we think we need to power through but when you’re stressed, uninspired, mentally block and frustrated, powering through will not be the best result. What would happen if you took a break to walk outside and let your brain rest. Don’t think about work, or anything “adulting” but instead, relax the mind and let it playfully wander and imagine as you walk?. Try it.

Take a mental health day
After a project is done, take a mental health day. Allow your mind and body to rest and recover from stress and pressure. Play with your kids or, if you don’t have kids, go be a kid! You will return to work refreshed and recharged.

Leave work early and/or come in late
Honestly, if I have the flexibility, I will end my work day early once in a while. It’s just good for my mental health – especially when I’m stressed. Get a massage, go for a hike, grab dinner with a friend or start your weekend early. Or, take time to hang with the fam or sleep in and have a slow morning.

We tell ourselves the story that we can’t afford to stop. That we have to work hard. Sometimes never breaking brings us to the realization that we can’t afford to not stop. Breaking is what helps you come back more powerful. How can you incorporate breaking as part of your lifestyle?