Stress is a natural emotional response to plenty of everyday life situations, but if it becomes too dysfunctional or overwhelming it can cause a variety of worrying physical and mental health conditions, including heart disease, digestive disorder, memory issues, anxiety, and depression.
There are many causes of stress, though a challenging career is one of the most common. Unfortunately, many ambitious people buy into the narrative that occupational success involves working long hours, taking on too many responsibilities, suffering demanding bosses, and enduring extreme stress. As a result, the work-life balance becomes deeply unhealthy.
Many life coaches and rhetoricians – like Imad Ghennouni, a motivational speaker with experience aiding personal development – regularly share the importance of de-stressing to achieve this optimal work-life balance. It’s integral to take time to evaluate your situation and priorities at work in order to relax.
There are several common symptoms of stress to look out for, including:
- Difficulty concentrating
- Poor self-esteem
- Changed sleeping and eating habits
- Nausea
- Increased mood swings
- An inability to relax
All of these can stem from an unhealthy work-life balance. Overworking and putting up with unyielding pressure makes it difficult to detach from work, even when fatigued and disenchanted, and subsequently, it becomes impossible to create a proper work-life balance. The longer this goes on the more likely burnout becomes. For more information about burnout, see the embedded PDF.
De-stressing is one of the most highly recommended forms of self-care for achieving the optimal work-life balance. Some of the best ways to de-stress include breathing exercises, meditation, exercise, hobbies, and mindfulness. These are examples of quick techniques to aid relaxation, but if performed on a regular basis they’re effective ways to wind down after the working day, de-stress, and focus on your emotional wellbeing and personal growth.
The more you work to de-stress, the easier it becomes to establish straightforward boundaries between work and home. Often, chronic stress and anxiety are caused by an unhealthy attachment to work, so de-stressing entails a complete detox, including not checking work emails or messages outside of working hours. Committing to this boundary creates more time for hobbies, socialising, sleep, and meals, further improving physical and emotional health.
As Imad Atiki El Ghennouni Mohammed knows, chronic stress is caused by an amalgamation of different work-related pressures and the glorification of workaholism. However, it’s possible to circumvent burnout by incorporating relaxation techniques into everyday life and cultivating a healthier work-life balance.