Do you wonder if your body is trying to tell you something, sending you signs your job is stressing you out? You’re not alone; our lives are becoming increasingly stressful and fast paced, and more of us are suffering from stress than ever before. You might feel exhausted no matter how much sleep you get, or notice you’re breaking out more often despite making healthy food choices. There are plenty of signs your job is stressing you out, and if you’re aware of them, you can make lifestyle changes to help!
Frequent breakouts, particularly in the chin and jaw area, are one of the first signs your job is stressing you out; other signs could include flaky, dry patches, unusually oily skin or a dull, tired looking complexion. When you’re happy and healthy, your skin glows, so if you’re noticing more spots than usual or itchy, irritated skin, it’s not always your diet that is to blame. Lack of sleep and worrying about work can both impact your skin, as your body struggles to cope during anxious times. Try using a gentle cleanser and moisturizer or a home-made honey and sugar scrub to gently clean and soften your skin – honey has an antibacterial action which is really soothing.
Every night you’re falling into bed exhausted, yet you can’t drift off. Worries from your day spin round and round in your head, and when you wake up in the morning you feel more tired than ever before. Some people fall asleep quickly then wake in the early hours and are unable to get back to sleep. If this sounds like you, take a look at what it is you’re worrying about. It could be that work is stressing you out! Implement a relaxing bedtime routine such as a bath and warm chamomile tea, or try a pillow mist with lavender, renowned for its relaxing qualities.
Whilst you were once a sushi and three pieces of fruit a day girl, nowadays you’re more likely to find yourself reaching for the biscuit tin to make it through until 5pm. Your eating habits have changed dramatically, and you often find yourself relying on sugar, fatty foods and caffeine to give you the boost of energy that you need. Whilst this provides your body with a ‘quick fix,’ it will ultimately lead to you feeling more drained, as sugar is processed quickly by the body and will leave you with that dreaded mid-afternoon slump, where you’re struggling to stay awake at your desk. Comfort eating or a change in eating habits can be a sure sign of stress, so try to leave your work worries at the office and always eat a well-balanced evening meal, snacking on fruit and nuts throughout the day. Foods such as almonds and sweet potatoes are calming for your body and can help to reduce stress levels.
Skipping meals is a dangerous habit, and will leave you feeling tired and sluggish. Your body will also go into starvation mode and begin storing fat, as it doesn’t know when the next meal is coming. If you’re finding you’re constantly stressed at work, you might not feel like eating, so it can be tempting to skip lunch. Try to eat at least a piece of fruit and some nuts, or try a light option such as sushi or a chicken salad. Your body needs fuel to combat stress effectively, and you’ll feel much worse if you skip meals.
Bags and dark circles could be a sign you’re not getting enough sleep, or evidence of a vitamin or iron deficiency, but they can also be caused by stress and illness. If you’ve suddenly noticed bags or dark circles under your eyes, take a look at your diet and lifestyle. Make changes such as going to bed earlier, take a relaxing bath or even allow yourself 10 minutes out of your day to sit down and meditate. If you’ve always had dark circles, this can be genetic, but if they suddenly appear, your body is trying to tell you something – it could be that work is stressing you out!
If you find that you’re dreading Monday mornings (and Tuesdays, and Wednesdays) then you might be unhappy in your job. Try to identify why you’re feeling like this; perhaps you’re dreading an upcoming presentation or feeling stressed about the project you’re working on. Don’t let feelings of stress and anxiety kill your enjoyment of work, instead speak to your boss about how you’re feeling, and see if some of the responsibility can be shared with a colleague.
Do you find yourself constantly snapping at your boyfriend over the smallest things? Or being moody with your girlfriends for no reason? Both of these could indicate that you’re unhappy with your life, and looking at how things are going in your job is a great place to start trying to figure out what’s going on. If work is stressing you out, those closest to you will often bear the brunt of your bad moods, which isn’t good news. Take some time out to assess how you’re feeling about work; perhaps it could be time for a change of career path?
We all experience stress at one point or another in our lives, but the key is to identify what’s stressing you out and make small changes to your life, so that you can get back on top and start enjoying yourself again! What do you do to relax and unwind after a stressful day at work?