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Career Success:
Coping with Year-End Stress at Work
Though the decorations may be up, and the holiday parties are on the calendar, this doesn’t mean that it is necessarily the jolliest time of the year around the office. The end of the year can bring a great deal of stress to the workplace for a number of different reasons.
For one thing, all of the holiday planning and financial strain is enough to put everyone on edge, which means that the workplace becomes much more volatile than other times of the year. Furthermore, the end of the year also brings about the inevitable deadlines that are always too-short and yet still non-negotiable. And all this is to be achieved in a month that has fewer workdays available due to the holidays themselves.
And if the stress created within the workplace wasn’t enough, there is also the contribution of stressed-out customers bringing their own levels of pressure and anxiety into the mix.
We all know that these stresses are inevitable. Since you can’t necessarily change the way that things happen at work, it’s up to you to take that extra step and handle the extra emotional baggage you’ll be forced to carry throughout the season. You’ll need to make a direct effort to avoid the too-common depression, disappointment, overwhelmed feelings, and overall holiday blues.
Though many people deal with these stresses by eating sweet, fatty, and salty foods – all part of the festive season – and taking a break from a lot of the physical activities in which they usually participate, this is actually among the worst tack that you can take if you’re trying to manage additional stress.
Instead, make sure that you’re packing your body with better-than-usual nutrition by eating very healthy. Sure, you can have the occasional sweet and holiday treat, but just don’t make this a primary part of your diet. Drink lots of water, and get as many fruits and veggies into your meals and snacks as you can. Your body will need the extra help to deal with the stress you’re bringing to it.
Furthermore, instead of skipping those usual trips to the gym, push yourself to keep going. Or, at least alter your routine so that you’re still active, even if you’re doing something different than usual. For example, if people decorate with lights on their houses in your area, then take a nice long walk with your dog or a family member to have a good look at the peaceful beauty in the evening. It may not be the same as a 40 minute aerobics class, at least you’re getting yourself moving and breathing the fresh air, instead of vegging out on the couch where you’re likely to simply snack your way through the evening.
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