I still recall at a previous job, we had an instant message app on our computers. I would be cheerfully working away when out of the blue an instant message would flash across the screen…”Please see me.”
It was from my office manager and the first time I received such a message I bounded enthusiastically into her office. I was pretty naive! It was not a pat on the back and in fact I got chewed out. This was standard procedure in our office. In time, when I saw or heard the words “please see me,” I felt a sense of dread that even made my hands sweat and my heart race. I knew too well that those were the symptoms of the stress response. I was in “fight or flight” mode. The problem is, since I couldn’t run, or fight for that matter, my body had to deal with the surge of stress hormones, and their unpleasant side effects.
Stress is often described as “the silent killer.” It can lead to heart disease, weight gain, high blood pressure, anxiety and depression, to name a few.
Some workplace stress is unavoidable. There are deadlines, there can be staff shortages, and other expectations that can cause worry.
Then there are the inevitable pitfalls, the junk food, the candy, donuts and other sugary foods that constantly appear in an office lunch room. All the things I wouldn’t buy at the grocery store, are regularly available! Combining the stress with the sugar and steady supply of caffeine to fuel energy to meet deadlines, can also be a recipe for disaster!
These are some of my stress and sugar survival tactics:
1) Remind myself that I am more than this job. It is what I do, but it doesn’t define me.
2) Know my own limitations. I am not super woman. I need to do my best but I need to rest and restore too.
3) No one can make me feel badly about myself. I work hard and I need to value myself or no one else will.
4) I make one cup of coffee in the morning and take it with me in a medium sized travel mug. I have even down sized from the mug I used to use! I limit myself to that one cup. I drink green tea or herbal tea if I really want more. But mostly I stick to water with a squeeze of lemon.
5) I avoid going into the kitchen area, period. There is always something I don’t need to be eating. I bring plenty of healthy snacks in case I need a pick-me-up.
6) Meditating, yoga, and waking or running really help me release the stress. If I feel the “fight or flight” response coming on, I can go out for a run, or I can focus on calming my breathing or doing a restorative pose.
7) I remind myself that the more I feel like I don’t have time for myself, the more I need it!
This article is a great one for reading more about dealing with the effects of stress at work:
https://greatist.com/happiness/manage-workplace-office-stress/amp
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