Stressbusters for those in fin sec
As the financial year end draws closer, people working in the financial sector are in a frenzy and understandably so. However, some of them are able to cope better in comparison to those who get consumedw by worry and fear of work piling on their desk. Harbouring stress isn’t safe, whether it is momentary or year-long because in both cases stressors tend to follow you home.
If you work in the financial sector and are unsure why you are losing sleep, have work on your mind 24X7 and losing focus, then let me tell you that this is one of the symptoms of you being under stress.
For starters, keep note of these symptoms: lethargy, pessimism, low morale, boredom, anxiety, frustration, fatigue, anger, irritability, frequent headaches and stomach problems. Here are a few things you can do to alleviate stress.
CREATE LEISURE TIME Many organisations today conduct various activities for employees vis-à-vis various kind of clubs, for example Zumba, yoga, Pilates, etc. Disconnect from work, zone out and indulge in these stress-busting activities. If, however, there’s no activity that interests you then look for clubs close to where you live. Go swimming, ask a friend to jog with you or play with your dog or visit an animal shelter or cook or bake. The point is that you should create some ‘me time’ for yourself. You will notice a huge difference.
GET ORGANISED Staying organised should become a habit, even if it means from this very moment. Once you have things organised, whether on your desktop or your table or Outlook, you will realise the amount of time that you would have wasted looking for files and folder and emails. Frustration knocks you out completely when you are searching for a client’s file and you can’t find it anywhere!
By being organised, you can minimise such episodes that tend to rob your peace of mind. Start with tiny steps because to become organised will require ongoing effort. Focus on the benefits and don’t give up mid-way.
I CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE SITUATION? If you are still crumbling down under work pressure, don’t shy away from bringing it to the notice of your manager. They should know your threshold. If you are overworked and if you see work is not equably distributed then propose it be done fairly. You can’t work alone through the day when there are other resources available. At the same time, think about whether it isn’t self-imposed stress. Sometimes, we tend to set unrealistic expectations on ourselves. Trying to finish work that will take three days to finish in one day is one such instance. Stop putting yourself in such situations.
The author is senior manager – business development, Work Better Training.