Work-Life Balance
-
5 ways to reduce your stress levels right now
Are you feeling stressed out and do not know where to begin? Well, I have a few “quick” fixes for you. If you were not aware, reducing your stress levels is simpler than you think. It does not involve something complicated like taking an idyllic trip to the forest. All you need to do is make some adjustments to your current routine. Although these suggestions will not cure your chronic stress, here are 5 ways you can reduce your stress levels right now! 5 ways to reduce your stress levels right now 1. Cut your to-do list down. Although lists can organize our thoughts, long lists can leave us feeling…
-
What is “quiet quitting” and should you do it too?
“Quiet quitting” is the new viral trend on TikTok. For starters, it has nothing to with actually quitting your job. Depending on who you speak to, it is a little confusing to determine if the trend is beneficial or harmful. Some believe the practice is how work should be. Others think that it means doing the bare minimum to get by at work. Others interpret the term as a “misnomer” for boundaries. If you have followed me for a while, you know that I have experienced severe burnout from working during the pandemic and advocate developing work-life balance and, creating boundaries and practicing self-care. The pandemic dramatically changed the workplace.…
-
How firm boundaries can easily reduce stress levels
Are your lack of boundaries creating more stress? Last week, I received a proposition to adjust my teaching schedule. Although the idea was not terrible, I would lose more than I gain and would cause me more stress down the line. I respectfully told them “no” and explained why. There will be some repercussions from my decision, but I genuinely believe that I made the right decision for my program. Earlier in my teaching career, I might have agreed to the change because I wanted to come across as a “team player” and “flexible.” I learned the hard way that doing so can add too much to your plate and…
-
5 silly mistakes you’re making when dealing with stress
If you think about all of the times you experienced stress, you can probably recall a time where you did not manage it well and possibly made the situation worse. Trust me, we’ve all been there. In this post, I discuss five silly mistakes people make when dealing with stress. If you are guilty of making these mistakes- don’t worry. I also provide some guidance on how to fix or prevent them. Mistake #1: Stress is unavoidable At times, we are faced with stressful situations out of your control such as getting laid off from your job. However, your perspective of a stressor can determine the level of stress you…
-
Is mindfulness the key for managing stress?
Have you ever been under so much stress that you could not think straight? Did you misinterpret a situation, think of the worst possible scenario and dwell on it for hours? If you answered yes to one or both statements, take a moment to remember how you felt in that moment. Anxious? Emotional? Impulsive? Assuming that you did not enjoy how you felt, you probably wished there was a way to escape those feelings in a healthy way. Or better yet, prevent them from happening in the first place? In recent years, the practice of mindfulness has emerged as a simple and accessible practice that can make a notable difference…
-
3 healthy habits that can greatly reduce stress
As I discussed in this post, stress can have a significant impact on the body. Unfortunately, we often abandon our self-care routine in order to manage a stressor. This leaves our body experiencing the effects of stress longer than we would like. Creating and maintaining the healthy habits of eating a proper diet, taking the time to exercise and getting enough sleep can reduce the impact of stress on the body. Eating a proper diet When a person is reacting to a stressor, the body needs more oxygen, energy and nutrients to function. Instead of consuming nutrient-dense foods, however, we often crave and reach for processed foods during stressful experiences.…
-
The ultimate guide to stress
Welcome to the third and final post of my "Back to School" series. Click here for the previous post. Although most of us are not going to school, many of our routines are changing due to the end of summer, our children going back to school or job schedule changes. This is a great time to reevaluate your goals and revamp your routines. We have all experienced stress in some form in our lives and developed an expectation to its appearance. Honestly, I did not know how stressed out I was until the pandemic forced our society to shut down. Even though we cannot avoid stress, we can minimize the…
-
3 habits you should do for a healthier workday
Last month, I transitioned from teaching from home to in-person. The initial transition was somewhat stressful since my classroom was not set up in time and experienced network problems almost everyday while teaching. Thankfully, I am finally in a comfortable routine. Although there are a few things I prefer about teaching from home, it is nice to interact with other people on a daily basis besides my fiancé and work with a live ensemble again. During my transition back to the workplace, I had to adjust my methodology of maintaining my wellness goals. Even though I did not much to change, I needed to plan out everything since I became…
-
7 quick things you can do when you feel overwhelmed
Although the year just started, I have been feeling a little overwhelmed. At first, I was excited for the start of the year. However, a combination of work responsibilities, wedding planning, and expanding the blog have caused some stress. It has not helped that I started my cut for bodybuilding competitions last week either. If you have been following me for a while, you already know I have experienced anxiety and burnout last year. Originally, I thought this feeling was a reoccurrence of burnout. However, I was not experiencing the disengagement I felt before. In fact, I felt the opposite. Some days, I did not know what to work on…
-
Why self care is more than expensive face masks
In general, taking care of ourselves when we are being asked for so much is exhausting and difficult. However, self care is more than putting on a face mask and zoning out.
