Stress is a normal reaction that we all experience at different points in our lives. When acute stress develops into chronic stress lasting for longer periods of time, it can affect how you react, behave and cope. It can also have a negative impact on your overall health and has been linked to several health conditions. I often encourage my clients struggling with stress to take an inventory of their daily routines to help identify areas where chronic stress may be an issue. One of the most common causes of stress can be your job. Work can be a hard area to approach because it provides financial security, which helps meet additional basic needs. In some cases, it may be necessary to find another job depending on how the stress is impacting your health. In others, I will work with a client to find appropriate ways to relieve stress and improve quality of life. The truth is, a lot of times talking about work and stress can be a touchy subject, but it is one we should all evaluate in our own lives. It is common for some to not even realize how stressed they are at a job until they take some time off. So, when is the last time you took a vacation? When is the last time you took even one day off to relax? I’m not talking about taking a vacation or day off and still continually checking emails, texts, and phones calls, but a true “leave work at work” day off?
At the end of the day, let’s make your health and wellbeing a priority, and see what we can do to get you back to functioning in a healthy way.