How to COPE WITH WORKPLACE STRESS
Work has never been more stressful. Luckily, Dr Min Yeo, a functional-medicine GP, is here to ease our worries – with some help from Beyoncé
BUT FIRST, COFFEE
Now, I bet you thought I would ask you to quit coffee, didn’t you? On the contrary, coffee can be very beneficial for your health and brain. Coffee contains polyphenols (antioxidants) and can help preserve brain power, enhance brain and physical performance, decrease the risk of type 2 diabetes and enhance your mood. So, if coffee does not make you overly jittery, don’t feel guilty about having one (skip the sugar) to kickstart your day. If you are after further brain enhancement, add two cups of green tea (for theanine) to keep you calm but laser focused. Bonus: green tea contains EGCG to improve your dental health, so flash those pearly whites.
SLOW FOOD, GOOD MOOD
Hangry, anyone? Food has a greater impact on our minds than we realise. Stability of blood sugar affects stability of our mind. We should aim for unprocessed colourful foods rather than white, sugary carbs. This means ditching the sugary rice-laden sushi (think sashimi salads instead) and replacing white sourdough sandwiches with colourful salads, slow carbs (such as sweet potato, pumpkin and legumes) and protein. Don’t forget the olive oil: studies have shown that a Mediterraneanstyle diet can significantly improve mood, leaving you more resilient to stress.
AVOID GOSSIP
Repeat after me: “You are not at work to make friends.” Conflict is inevitable when working under pressure, in such uncertain times. Try not to be distracted by gossip; keep your eyes on the goal and your mind and body healthy. If you get roped into a Google Hangouts gossip session with a colleague, remember to breathe. There’s even an app for that. Breathe in the App Store prompts you several times a day to take a series of deep breaths, which will help you reduce the physical symptoms of stress and anxiety by slowing down your heart rate.
A GIRL’S BEST FRIEND
No, I am not talking about those Louboutins you’ve been eyeing. Dogs are your best friend, and dogs in the workplace have been shown to decrease stress, improve staff morale and productivity. At The Royal Melbourne Hospital Emergency Department, staff dogs are welcome on weekdays, following the success of a 2018 trial where staff brought their dogs in for two days a week. Work towards a dog-friendly office or invite an organisation such as Delta Society’s therapy dogs to visit.
CHANNEL YOUR INNER BEYONCÉ
Congratulations! It’s the end of the day, you’ve stared at screens, replied to a thousand emails, been interrupted countless times, and you’ve survived.
It’s time to completely switch off. Research shows that we cannot multitask, so take a break from your phone, avoid reading or sending emails after hours, and ignore work phone calls. Instead, listen to music (shown to decrease anxiety) and if you’re in a car driving home (or #wfh), sing along. Be that person at the traffic lights/lounge room. Singing stimulates the vagus nerve, improving the heart and body’s ability to deal with stress. Now you are ready to cook that healthy dinner, prep tomorrow’s lunch and face your partner and children like the serene goddess you are.