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Disability & Workforce Development Professionals: 6 Strategies to Decrease Work-Related Stress & Reignite Your Passion!

Have you done something for you lately?  If you answered “no” to that question, you’re not alone.  A more important question to ask yourself is why not?  Having worked in the social service industry for the past 14 years, I’ve witnesses many changes. The most striking of these changes has been the creative “outside the box” thinking of agencies committed to meeting the needs of their customers despite shrinking resources.  This has also meant the donning of many new hats or responsibilities by staff that traditionally had very specific roles and responsibilities.  Stress on the job is real, and it’s on the rise.  What can you do about it?

1. Take Charge.  In order to feel more in control, especially during times of change, arrange to meet with your supervisor at least quarterly to talk about your performance and your job. Take this opportunity to clarify your strengths, weaknesses, and any areas you can develop or improve on, including discussing any sources of concern.
2. Unplug!  If you carry a pager or cell phone for work, turn it off once you leave the office.   Most employers do not expect you to be available 24/7 unless it’s in your job description.  Set boundaries and stick to them.  You need and deserve the down time.  This includes e-mail.   Avoid checking work-related e-mail at home, unless you work out of a home office.  If you do, only check it during regular business hours.   Self and family time are important!
3. Simplify.  Instead of packing your day full of tasks and activities, determine what needs to be done, what can wait, and what can be eliminated all together.  Update your task list every day.  For things you must complete, determine how long each will take and assign a time.  It will be less overwhelming if you know how long each task will take to complete.    
4. Say NO.  Learn to say NO or not right now to items that are not a necessary part of your job.  If saying no isn’t an option, be sure to let the person know who assigned you the task how long it will take to complete and when you will be able to fit it into your schedule.  Do not promise anything you can’t deliver on – this will create more stress!  If time is limited, do the best job possible.  Sometimes it doesn’t have to be perfect to still be a job well done. 
5. Take a Break.  Throughout the day, take a few minutes to clear your mind, especially if you’re feeling overwhelmed.  Don’t forget to take your lunch break.  Make sure you actually use it to do something for yourself, not to do more work.  Take a walk, exercise, do some type of activity that removes you physically and mentally from work and don’t feel guilty.  Stick to it, and do it now – right now!
6. Relax.  Plan a vacation at least once a year, preferably twice!  Having 45 days of vacation on the books isn’t something to be proud of.  Use it!   If you can’t afford to go away, use the time to do some things around the house – read a book, paint a room, or visit a local museum.  The possibilities are endless.  Force yourself to do it.  You’ll be glad that you did.

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Lisa Jordan is a disability and workforce development expert.  Lisa uses her keen ability to identify challenges and develop solutions so that workforce development professionals can increase their comfort level, productivity and effectiveness when working with a diverse clientele.   Download Lisa’s White Paper on 5 Easy Disability Tips to Immediately Increase Agency Accessibility by visiting http://www.human-solutions.net.