Welcome to the Motivation To Move Community Forums!
Well Hello!
If this is your first visit to the Motivation To Move Community Forums, Welcome! You are currently viewing our forums as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions. By joining our free community you will be able to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, and more. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free, so join our community today!
I’m under a tremendous amount of stress at work right now with enough work for three people and no free time at all. I’m developing a twitch. I’ve run away from the office for an hour for my lunch break and I want to eat everything that isn’t nailed down or that can run faster than I can. I took the dog for a little walk which helped but I’ve got to go back to the office in a few minutes.
I can’t burn off stress during the day with exercise because I’m attached to the desk. I tend to head to the jar of chocolate candy when I’m at my limit. Does anyone have any advice on how to deal with stress at work without snacking on junk or carrying a flask?
Hi Carrie!
They make handguns that can easily fit into your purse now........no just kidding.
Try breathing exercises. Sometimes when things get that bad at work I’ll disappear into the ladies room and close my eyes and do some deep breathing. Just focus on something that makes you feel good and breathe in and out slowly about 10X. This really helps me to calm down and get a grip. As far as stress eating goes, keep some gum in your purse at all times. This way you can chew and work off a bit of stress too. Try to keep the chocolate out of sight as much as you can and ask yourself that one basic question, “How do I want to fee?” I hope this helps and I hope your day goes better.
I’m with you on the stress factors. I can also be under a lot of pressure to get everything done yesterday.
I’ve learned to look at the overall significance of things and use the duck principle - not from the perspective of when you see something coming at you ‘DUCK!” but more like water rolling off the duck’s back. Don’t let it stick. It takes practice and it helps if you can truly believe in your own worth and not take things personally. I have a great deal of professional pride in my work, but there are times when I just need to let go of the attachments. I always produce my best work and that has to be enough for my personal satisfaction. When all else fails, I attach myself to a 17’ by 20” wide boat and head west towards Japan. At some point I come to my senses and turn around.
So when there is a lot of stress, just take a few deep breaths, understand that in the overall scheme of the universe xyz project doesn’t mean much, know that you are not defined by your job and that you may be under appreciated and under paid at work, but you have a lot to offer the world and there are people who appreciate you. MTM has done a lot to save my sanity.
Keep thinking about the person you are - healthy, fit, and thin and don’t let external pressures undermine you.
The breathing helps, I used it a lot when I quit smoking. It sounds so silly when you’re upset, but try it. If nothing else, you’ll breath yourself into a great headrush! The stress ball would be very helpful also. Is there any end to the stress in site? Sometimes I just close my eyes, take a deep breath in, let silence settle over me, and start again. This may need to be repeated, 45 minutes is NOT unusual. hehe
Oh, and relax your shoulders, you don’t need that adding to your stress!
They make handguns that can easily fit into your purse now........no just kidding.
Hilarious Emmi! Thanks for the comic relief. I’ll try to refrain from going postal and hide out in the restroom. I’d love to belt out a primal scream but I’ll stick to breathing.
Paula, I like to get things done and done right. When I’m over-worked it’s impossible to get everything done and I get very frustrated. In addition to my enormous project, I have to do my normal work, meet with customers, and this week I’m covering from a co-worker who is on vacation. I think if I can just get through this week, when he returns he can cover for me long enough to get this project done.
You’re right about stepping back and looking at it in perspective. I was drowning in it today but since reading your post I’m taking a different look. I was trying to take my work home to get caught up but that cuts into my family time and doesn’t allow me to relax so I left it all at the office today. I’m going to work out a little bit and hang out with my family. Thanks for the support.
Brandon, I’m afraid to have a stress ball around. I might feel the urge cram it down someone’s throat. Yikes!! Just kidding
Thanks Bree,
I’m working on the breathing. I remember square breathing from my psych class in college. I used to use it all of the time for anxiety so why not for this? Right?
There is an end in site. The project has to be complete no later than the 29th, the sooner the better. My co-worker comes back from vacation on Monday and I’m going on vacation the first week in July. So if I just do as much as I can every day and know that I’m outta there at the end of the month I’ll get through it. I will just have to use all of my strength and will power not to binge my way through it.
It might not be the full-body workout you crave, but at least it’s something to get your blood moving and your endorphins pumping.
Second, have you considered looking at the workload itself? I heard this tip somewhere, though I don’t remember where. In the evening, when you leave work, write down the six most important things you have to do the next day. Then, prioritize them in order, from 1 to 6. When you come in the next day, start at #1 and work your way down. That way, even if you don’t finish, you’ll have done the most important things.
My fingers are crossed for you, Carrie! You can do it!
Julie, Thanks for the link. I deal with customers all day so I don’t know if I could pull that off at my desk but I could run upstairs to the break room and take a mini workout break if I feel like I’m losing it. Those are good organizational ideas too.
Tonight I went out with my girlfriends for dinner. We always have a great time together and laugh our heads off. It was a good release for me and I feel very relaxed tonight.
Glad to hear it, Carrie. Like they say, laughter *is* the best medicine! (And if you don’t believe me, use some of that non-existant free time to google the health benefits of laughter. *grin*)
Up front all I can say about the stress is I HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR! I’ve been having extra portions of stress myself, and I too am tempted to reach for some caloric comfort. So here’s what I’m doing instead. First, I keep a full 1 liter water bottle on my desk at all times. Hard to be hungry with a bunch of water sloshing around in your gut. Second, ditch the candy jar. After I ditched mine I replaced it with a can of unsalted almonds. Apples are good too, filling and full of fiber (and they keep for days without refrigeration).
My last suggestion may be the hardest, but it works miracles for me. When you take your (ahem) “bathroom break”, close the stall door sit down and just practice deep breathing. Three deep inhales through the nose and exhales through the mouth. (OK that may not be the optimal place for deep breathing, but you can do it anywhere it’s quiet) Try it with your eyes closed and concentrate on the breathing and nothing else. It’s not easy, but in time the self discipline will be there to close off the outside world. And remember, the world won’t end if you are away from your desk for 5 minutes (really, it won’t).
If all else fails, take two margaritas and try again in the morning.
A little venting on this site helps a lot too. I have had tons of stress over the past two or three days and just the process of writing it all down was a big relief.
Glad to hear you’re feeling better.
Jeff - Maybe I’ll try the margaritas tonight, after all, it’s Friday and only two more workdays until Monday.
Jeff - Maybe I’ll try the margaritas tonight, after all, it’s Friday and only two more workdays until Monday.
Ah, that’s right...Monday is only a holiday here in Hawaii. Kamehameha Day! (Kinda makes up for having to work on Saturday) I think I’ll celebrate with a mountain bike ride and one of those margaritas!
Dr. Jeff, Thanks for the good ideas. I would love to get rid of the candy jar but it’s not my jar. My office manager keeps refilling a big jar of chocolate for everyone and it calls my name. Sometimes I challenge myself to see how many times I can walk by it without picking up a piece. Sheer torture! I’m getting better at it though. I do keep healthy snacks at my desk now so I’ll pick those over the bad stuff but for some reason when I’m stressed I lose my mind. Why is that? I did learn square breathing years ago in a Psychology class but only think to use it for anxiety or panic. I will definitely start using it for stress too. I did take your RX for margaritas last night. I went out for dinner with my family and had a couple. Today I’m going for an hour long massage as a reward for making it through this horrible week. That should do the trick!
A little trivia...I took ukulele lessons when I was a kid and know how to play Hawaiian War Chant and Tiny Bubbles and sing them in Hawaiian. I’ll have to drag out my uke Monday and play a little song in honor of Kamehameha Day. Have a nice holiday!
Paula, I agree that venting here and getting positive responses helps greatly. So sorry you had a bad week too. I hope all is well now and you are having a relaxing weekend. Take care!
I’ve run away from the office for an hour for my lunch break and I want to eat everything that isn’t nailed down or that can run faster than I can. I took the dog for a little walk which helped but I’ve got to go back to the office in a few minutes.
