How To Make Your Job Less Stressful
Many of us have, or will have, a job at some point in our lives. I have been working for all of my adult life. Over the years, I’ve discovered ways to make my job less stressful and more enjoyable, and I’d like to share them with you today.
Create a Work Schedule That Reduces Stress and Boosts Focus
I am a creature of habit and a planner. I find that planning and having a schedule to follow helps me feel less stressed. It gives me time to prepare and gives me some control over my day. I know that I can’t plan everything, and sometimes I will have to pivot; that’s okay.
Try scheduling a regular time to wake up, complete your morning routine, leave for the office, and then return home. Sticking to this schedule will give you a sense of normalcy, which can help ease morning stress and work-related anxiety.
Take Your Breaks: Pausing During the Workday Matters
It’s essential to take breaks when working in an office. Ensure you're taking breaks to stretch, hydrate, and have lunch. If possible, take a 10-minute break every couple of hours. I enjoy taking a walk around the building during my breaks to get some fresh air. Taking breaks will help you stay fueled and energized, allowing you to remain productive throughout the day and reduce the risk of burnout.
Set Healthy Boundaries with Colleagues to Maintain Focus At Work
Sometimes, when you work in an office environment, it can be challenging to focus due to chatter, distractions, and interruptions from colleagues. I find that it’s essential to set boundaries if these things are hindering me from completing my work and leaving me feeling stressed or rushed.
It’s ok to catch up from time to time, but it’s also essential to know when to set boundaries and let people know you’re busy and will catch up with them later. Setting boundaries will help you feel more confident and alleviate added stress that may arise from your workplace.
Use Your Vacation Time to Recharge and Prevent Burnout
Most jobs offer paid time off, and we should use it. Having time away to refresh, decompress, and enjoy life outside of work will help you be more productive while at work. Research has shown that employees taking time off are crucial to creating a more sustainable workplace, which benefits their minds, bodies, and overall well-being (Source: Harvard Business Review).
Use the PTO you’ve earned and worked hard for to do something that makes you happy. This could be scheduling a spa day, running errands to the garden center or the store, or just staying home and watching daytime TV while everyone is out of the house for the day.
Setting boundaries at work also includes working during your paid hours and leaving when they are done. You should do your best while at work, but when the day is done, it’s your time.
I hope this gives you some ideas on how to make your 9-to-5 job less stressful and More Enjoyable. Have a great day!
Bonus Devotional From My 30-Day Devotional, Keep Going: 30 Devotionals That Encourage You to Keep Going Every Day.
Your Work Matters
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
— 1 Corinthians 10:31
Sometimes it feels like the weekdays are stuck on repeat: wake up, go to work, come home, go to bed, and do it all over again. This can feel especially frustrating if you’re in a job that doesn’t seem to make a difference, or one that feels disconnected from your calling or long-term goals.
I’ve been there. I get it.
It wasn’t until I realized that every job impacts the world in some way that my attitude began to shift. Think about it; if you’re a clerk at a grocery store, you’ve probably rung up groceries for a doctor. That doctor needs to eat in order to have the energy to treat patients.
The patients treated by that doctor receive preventive care, which keeps them healthy and able to serve in their own roles. And on it goes. It’s all connected.
This is my long way of saying: your work matters.
Once I began seeing my job through this lens, I was motivated to approach each task, and each person with care and excellence. I began doing my work not just for the paycheck, but as an offering to the Lord.
So no matter what your job looks like today, even if it seems small or insignificant, it’s not. Choose to show up and give your best. When you work unto the Lord, He sees it, and He will reward you.
Reflection: Commit to showing up to your work like it matters, because it does.
This is an entry from my 30-day devotional:
Keep Going: 30 Devotionals That Encourage You To Keep Going Every Day
Life can be challenging at times, but there are still many things to be joyful about. I’ve experienced some challenging and anxiety-ridden times in my life, but through it all, God has sustained me and given me the strength to keep going! In this devotional, I share encouraging scriptures, relatable stories and experiences, and reflections that I pray will encourage you to persevere through life’s challenges, find joy in the everyday, and trust God through it all. Get your copy today!