Even though you might love what you do, you might feel as if your job is really stressful. For example, depending on the industry that you’re in, especially if it involves high stakes trading or big business dealings, you could find yourself facing tight deadlines all the time, as well as immense pressure to avoid failure. It can be easy for these types of jobs to take a big toll on you, but there are things that you can do that can help.
Avoid Turning to Drugs and Alcohol
When you think about alcoholism, you might think about someone who has a hard time holding a full-time job because of his or her drinking problem. However, you should know that just about anyone can suffer from a drug or alcohol problem. In fact, a surprising number of people who have a lot of stress and have trouble coping with work can turn to drugs and alcohol.
This is true for a lot of reasons. Some people who work hard feel that they “deserve” to relax and unwind in the evenings with a few too many drinks or their favorite illicit substance. Even though it’s true that you do deserve to treat yourself every now and then when you work hard, drugs and alcohol are not the answer.
You might also find that several coping mechanisms consist of substance abuse. Although it might not seem like a problem at first, substance use is a serious issue that needs to be treated accordingly. The stages of alcohol withdrawal are hard to overcome without any help, especially help from experts in the area. The same can be said for many drugs as well. If you have been taking to drugs or alcohol as a means of dealing with your stress, it’s important to seek help right away.
Give Yourself Some Time Off
Even though you might find yourself putting in a lot of extra hours when you’re on a tight deadline, it’s important not to overwork yourself too much. This can cause stress, and it can eventually lead to burnout, which is going to be worse for your career in the long run. Limiting the number of hours that you work and avoiding too much overtime is important. It’s also important to take your vacation days and actually enjoy yourself rather than buying your time at the end of the year while still working.
Also, when you are off, it’s important to actually take the time off. When you’re with your family or friends, it’s important to try to avoid talking about work any more than necessary. This can help you relax and unwind, and your loved ones are sure to appreciate it as well. Also, make sure that you unplug from your phone and computer; it doesn’t really count as time off if you’re making work-related phone calls, filling out paperwork or answering emails.
Keep a Journal
Even though you might not have kept a journal since you were a kid, the truth is that you are never too old to do so. Even if you don’t think that you have time to keep a journal, you might find that this stressful time in your life is actually the best time to do so. It can be a good way to let out your feelings and to possibly relieve some of the stresses that you are dealing with.
Talk to Someone
You should not keep all of your trading stresses and worries bottled up inside. Finding someone who you can talk to about these things can be helpful. If you haven’t yet thought about it, you may want to consider meeting with a therapist. Even though you might think that this is something that has a stigma attached to it, the truth is that just about anyone can benefit from talking to a professional. You might find that it is a good way to get some of the stresses off of your chest and to get some professional advice about how to handle your stressful job and life.
Exercise
Making time to exercise is important for your overall health and can help you feel a lot less stressed out. Even if you’re short on time, taking the time to take a brisk walk during your lunch break or waking up a little bit early to hit the gym for a few minutes before work can make a big difference.
As you can see, if you are having trouble coping with your stressful career, you should not just rely on alcohol and drugs to get you through. If you follow these tips, you can make things easier for yourself without turning to destructive behaviors.