Working for someone else (employment) can be stressful, but guess what…?
…so can working for yourself (self employment…)
At Career Garage, we speak to people every single day, who struggle with the stresses of their current employment situation, whatever that happens to be.
It’s one of the main reasons that someone might look for a new job, as it happens – too much stress.
Whether they’re worried about a lack of stability or advancement opportunities, it can be stressful. If they’re working within a toxic environment, struggling to find any real meaning or purpose, that can be stressful too. Even if they’re just looking for more financial security or an improved work/ life balance. Yep, these can be a cause for stress, just the same.
Since the industrial revolution, the ‘civilised’ world (if that’s what you want to call it!) has battled with the idea that work is stressful, and that this is just how it’s supposed to be.
Being stressed is often seen as a badge of honour, which is actually kind of perverse when you think about it!

“How’s work?” they ask…
“Mad! I’m mowed out. Meeting myself coming back” you reply, as if it’s something to be proud of, all this reaching unhealthy levels of stress at work.

Now, whilst it is certainly true that some people deal with stress more easily than others, it’s also true that we could all do with a little less stress in our working lives, so let’s have a look at Career Garage’s Seven Secrets to Stress Management at Work.
Try one of them, try them all even, and see if it makes a difference to your stress situation…
Career Garage’s Seven Secrets to Stress Management at Work
1. Create the Office of Your Dreams – a comfy chair, beautiful pads and pens, an essential oil diffuser, tacky little mascots. Wherever your office is, make it a place that you want to work in.

2. Timetable, Timetable, Timetable – from the moment you open your eyes, to the time when you hit the hay, having a carefully thought through plan will help you get the most out of each and every day. Your productivity will go through the roof with an effective timetable.

3. Respect Your Mood – it’s impossible to feel motivated all of the time. Sometimes, you will need a slow start or an early dart. This isn’t you being lazy, this is you responding to what your body (and your brain) needs.

4. Get Off Your Arse – exercise in whatever form you choose is so important to relieving stress. Run, walk the dog, do some press ups or go to the gym. Just get off your arse every now and then.

5. Connect – you don’t need to invite your pals round to the office or meet for lunch every day, but keeping in touch with the people you love most is one really effective way of keeping stress at work at bay.

6. Disconnect – sometimes things like social media can seem like a welcome distraction from the task at hand, but turn them off, if you possibly can. Firstly, you’ll eradicate that feeling of FOMO, and it’ll add productivity to your day instead of procrastination.

7. Do Your Thing – yoga, pilates, eating a bit of chocolate. Whatever you do to relax, make sure you add it in to your daily routine. Your stress levels will thank you later.

This list of Career Garage’s Seven Secrets to Stress Management at Work is by no means a quick fix, but it should be a start to easing some of your work related stresses.
If you try a combination of the above for a decent amount of time, and still feel like your stress is out of hand, it’s probably a good idea to get in touch with Career Garage, to talk about your future employment or self employment plans.
No one should be stressed indefinitely, even if that’s how society has us all programmed!