Families have weathered many types of storms since COVID first appeared, facing the challenges of working and attending school from home or under difficult circumstances. Some parents have lost full-time work, while others have coped with anxiety, depression, or other mood disorders while trying to keep everything together. It can be extremely hard to prevent tension from creeping into the household under these circumstances, especially if there are outside factors adding stress.
To help reduce stress and keep your cool at home so that you and your loved ones can get through the rest of the pandemic as a team, Blog Iron Will invites you to read on.
Take a second look at your job role
If you’re employed in a management position, it’s important to take a hard look at your daily responsibilities and suss out any stress that consistently comes your way in order to make some changes. While it’s true that a certain amount of stress can improve performance, as it provides motivation to start projects, meet deadlines, and deliver high quality work, too much stress can be very detrimental.
Leadership roles, in particular, can be extremely stressful because you’re taking on orders from your superiors while trying to make your subordinates happy, and the two don’t always mesh. If you’re coping with stress or anxiety at your job, talk to your superiors about a possible solution. Look for ways you can make some changes that will affect both you and your employees, such as offering more schedule flexibility or starting a workplace wellness initiative.
If your job has started to take a toll, know that there is a booming market for freelancer work these days. And the types of jobs that are available run the gamut from architecture to engineering to graphic design to accounting to blog writing. Best of all, working for yourself provides plenty of flexibility that comes in handy when you’re a working parent.
Get better sleep
Workplace stress, poor diet, lack of exercise, and several external factors can contribute to your ability to get good sleep, which affects your mood and your ability to handle tension or conflict. If you’ve been waking up feeling exhausted or find yourself tossing and turning throughout the night, it might be time to make some changes.
Start by making sure your bedroom is the right temperature for good rest, and that there are no bright lights or devices nearby that could cause you to wake prematurely. Then, take steps to clear away any negative energy. Going through the process can be very therapeutic and allow you to feel renewed ease and relaxation in your bedroom. Next, think about internal factors, such as what you’re eating and drinking before bed. Look for easy ways to fit in some exercise, such as taking a walk with a family member after dinner, as this can be extremely beneficial for sleep.
Step outside
Even if you don’t have time to fit in an entire workout every day, it can be helpful for your mental (and physical) health to step outside whenever you can and get some fresh air, both at home and at work. Try taking your lunch break outside on nice days or going for a short walk with the dog in the morning to start the day off on a good note. Not only is this helpful for reducing stress, it will allow you to take some time away from everything and gather your thoughts.
Set some limits
Getting outside as often as possible can be pretty helpful in reducing or preventing stress, but it’s also important to set some personal limits when you’re spending a lot of time at home with your family members. Boundaries can help you feel more in control and will give you the time you need to work, relax, or recharge, and your family members need this time as well.
If possible, create times during the day for everyone to do their own thing, whether it’s playing outside, reading a book, making art, or practicing a hobby. Or look for activities you can do together that don’t require a ton of interaction with one another, such as listening to podcasts or watching a movie.
This time is hard on everyone in the household, but by following these tips you can make the process a little easier and reduce stress for the entire family. Reach out for help and look for resources that will allow you and your loved ones to move forward each day.
Photo by August de Richelieu via Pixels
Today's post has been brought to you by Mark Harris.
www.awarenesstoolkits.com