3 Stress-Management Hacks Successful Women Swear By

The COVID-19 pandemic has made working a more stressful experience. Uncertainty, the move to remote or hybrid-working — blending working from home and working in the office — have made employees less in control and at the mercy of an invisible virus. 

Yet with all the chaos, unknowns and change, there are some great ways to help you thrive and be healthy as we continue to work in these tumultuous times. 

1. Do a digital detox every day.

I’ve certainly been guilty of failing to manage my notifications and feeling like I’m always on. You don’t need to take a break from your phone or laptop for hours on end to detox. Even just a few minutes where you turn on Do Not Disturb or silence your notifications can be helpful. During that time, stretch, go outside or take a walk of at least 15 mins to give yourself some time to disconnect and enjoy looking at nature or noticing a different and more restful environment for your eyes and mind. You’ll return to your desk refreshed and ready to work. 

2. Create clear physical and virtual boundaries. 

Setting boundaries at both home, the office and in your calendar can help separate work from your personal life. If you work from home, clear away your working equipment when you’re not online. Whether you work in the office or at home, schedule your breaks in your calendar so you don’t accidentally work through lunch — and set your status as “away” or put on Do Not Disturb when your break time comes. 

It’s also a good practice to schedule core working hours and hours to do things that bring you joy outside of work. By adding your personal time to your calendar, you can have an extra reminder to log off and get something you love done.

3. Take five minutes to actively destress.

Whether it’s a few minutes mins to do some deep breathing in and out, meditate, or be mindful, dedicating time to breathe can help to put a brake on overwhelming feelings of stress. Close your eyes and clear your mind of all of your issues and simply focus on your breath and take six deep breaths in and out until you feel calmer. You may also like to add an affirmation like, “I inhale calm and exhale stress” as you do the breathing exercise. 

Working through times of uncertainty and crisis is never easy, yet adding healthy habits to your routine can help regulate stress and make your workday just a little easier. I would urge us all to be compassionate and kind to ourselves as we seek to strike the right balance. 

--

This article reflects the views of the author and not necessarily those of Fairygodboss.

Ekua Cant is the Head Cheerleader for Career Magic, Be Your No.1 Cheerleader and an author and career clarity coach. She is no stranger to career change or transitions and is using her positive style to coach ambitious women to unlock their mindset, gain career clarity and create career success on their own terms. She has led multi-million-pound public sector digital transformations. She is the author of a motivational self-help book called, Be Your No.1 Cheerleader, which uses the entrepreneurial journey to encourage active positive self-development.