During this COVID period, many people are finding it difficult to keep all the balls in the air and stay balanced. Work, having the kids at home and helping them with schoolwork, the loss of many activities that used to give energy, and possibly even financial problems… It’s a challenging and stressful time for many.

Stress isn’t inherently bad, it can actually have a positive effect. Think of a job interview or a presentation you’ve given. Most people experience stress or tension in situations like these. That’s healthy stress. It keeps you focused and alert, helping you perform better.

It’s a different story when the feeling of stress persists. Long-term stress can lead to both psychological and physical symptoms. Your muscles may feel tense, you may find it harder to concentrate, or you might experience stomach issues or headaches. You may become more irritable with those around you, feel rushed and restless, or become more emotional more quickly.

Long-term stress can also lead to burnout. An increasing number of sick leave cases are caused by prolonged stress.

What can you do when you realize you’re experiencing long-term stress? Here are five tips:

Talk about it
Let your manager know what you’re struggling with. Explore whether there are ways to reorganize your work to reduce stress. Are there tasks that can be postponed or taken over by someone else? By opening up about your situation, more options often emerge than you might expect. If your manager doesn’t know what’s going on, they won’t be able to support you..

Get moving
It’s important to assess what your body can handle. If you’re already experiencing burnout, intense exercise is not advisable. What matters is that you stay active within your limits. It’s a common misconception that intense workouts are helpful in such cases—they also produce adrenaline, which is a stress hormone. In these situations, it’s better to take a walk or go for a gentle bike ride.

Meditate
By meditating regularly, preferably in the morning, you can start your day much more calmly. It helps you reconnect with yourself and become more aware of what you need to feel well.

Write things down
Writing things down helps you give them a place. You can do this with tasks you still need to complete, by keeping a list, you no longer have to remember everything, which already creates more peace of mind. Also, try journaling. Putting your thoughts on paper provides an outlet and often helps you let go of them.

Do One thing at a time
We tend to do several things at once—texting while eating, taking calls while driving… We think it makes us more efficient. But the opposite is true. Multitasking actually causes us to take longer to complete tasks and leads to more mistakes. It also increases stress levels. So finish one task before starting the next. And if you have a big task ahead of you, block out multiple time slots for it and put your phone on silent.

When you start applying these tips, you’ll soon notice the positive effects. However, if that constant feeling of stress persists, don’t hesitate to seek help. Our personal coaching can support you in finding your balance again.