Another year has come and gone. Up until last year I would set a Resolution to try to set myself up for success, and every year at the end I would feel deflated that I didn’t do what I set out to do. Last year was the first time that my New Years Resolution was not setting a New Years Resolution and I have to say that in December, I was not disappointed. This year, while I’m not classifying it as a Resolution, I have promised that I would work on dealing with stress more effectively.
We are learning that continuous stress effects our bodies by disrupting our sleep patterns and eating habits, and can lead to medical issues. Self-care is such an important topic and the resources available to us are endless.
We live in a world where our jobs can be stressful at times, whether we love what we do or not. Time crunches, the volume of work and person life are all reason why we could be stressed in the workplace. Understanding what it is that is causing stress, and learning to cope with it, can help work through it. One thing that I really try to focus on is breathing when I’m starting to feel that pressure. Even just taking a 5 minute break from my desk has helped me re-focus and I can then set a plan and organizing priorities.
Some great tips in dealing with stress is to do what you love, get some fresh air, keep your work station organized, and start your day off right. I always start my day with my favourite coffee and 15 minutes to myself to do whatever I want, which usually starts with Wordle until it stresses me out.
Christine Allan, Firm Operations Manager and Sr. Law Clerk