If you work as a manager, firefighter, nurse, police officer, or anything that is fast-paced and comes with high stakes, then you know what it is like to have a stressful job. While you may be honored to have your career and know that you are making a difference, it can still be hard to wake up every day and face another tough shift. Instead of turning to unhealthy behaviors to put your mind at ease, you should consider practicing yoga.
Yoga is a great way to settle your mind and get the exercise that you need to take on each new day with gusto. To help you out, we will talk about the effects of stress at work and why you need to make a change today.
There are many ways that stress can manifest itself during your day job — and none of them are healthy. When you are filled with anxiety, then your productivity suffers and you may even lose passion for the job. That is bad news in any profession, but it could be dire if you have a job in law enforcement or medicine. Staying alert is necessary to save lives and protect the people of your city, and you cannot afford to have a bad day.
There are also many hidden causes of stress that could impact your mental health. For instance, if you stare at a screen all day as a 911 operator or IT manager, then the use of those devices can lead to addictive behaviors, eye strain, and anxiety. Also, if you have a job where you are constantly dealing with bad news, then that repetitive drama can eventually leave a dark mark on your psyche.
Burnout and fatigue can show themselves a lot in medical professions, especially nursing. The excessive workload and long shifts can be tiring, and it can be tough to retain your focus. Plus, the constant need to watch patients deal with pain and chronic conditions can lead to compassion fatigue, which can lead to anger, dejection, and resentment. We may even carry those jaded feelings over into our personal lives.
If you are experiencing the symptoms of burnout or work-related stress, like constant exhaustion, body aches, or lack of sleep, then it’s worth it to seek out help. Consider turning to yoga.
There are many components of yoga that can help you deal with the stress of work and feel better overall. One great benefit of yoga is that it helps us to center our breathing. When you try breathing exercises, you can calm down your heartbeat and ease your body and mind. Try something as simple as breathing in through your nose while mentally counting to four, holding your breath as you count to seven, and then exhaling as you count to eight. Consider that exercise next time you are having a particularly stressful moment to redirect your mind and focus on your breath.
The poses that you do while practicing yoga can also be great for stress relief, and some of them are very simple for beginners. For example, the cat pose involves being on your hands and feet as you draw your belly toward your spine and arch your back toward the ceiling. This pose will help you to cool down your muscles and rid your body of the rigid feeling that could be keeping you on edge.
Another exercise is the cow pose, where you are on all fours, but this time you curve your belly downward as you stretch your chest and chin by looking upward. You hold this pose for 30 seconds at a time and it massages your organs, so you feel instant relaxation.
Practicing yoga can also help you to build confidence in yourself and your job. That is because when you are able to complete a new yoga pose, you feel a sense of accomplishment that you can carry over to your job. Also, if you practice regularly, then you will get better sleep and wake up feeling prepared for a new day.
At this point, you may be sold on the idea of incorporating yoga into your routine, but you may not know how you will fit it into your busy schedule. While you may not be able to do a full routine, you can fit in here and there with some smart strategies.
For example, you can do yoga at your desk. Take a few minutes out of work every hour or so to relieve stress and take on the rest of the day. If you cannot get out of your chair, then try some neck stretches or shoulder rolls to ease the pain in that area. When you feel physically depleted, then you may be slouching. Sit up straight, and you can correct the flow of oxygen to feel better and be more productive.
You can also try some longer exercises and yoga poses by ensuring that you take your breaks and lunches every day. Excuse yourself and go to the local park or an actual yoga class so you can return to work feeling refreshed. This is also important if you work remotely. When you don’t have to commute home every day, then it can be easy to work longer hours. However, you need to correct that behavior and implement a proper work-life balance. At the end of a long day, leave your remote office and do your yoga poses to unwind.
By practicing the many elements of yoga, you can give yourself a chance to succeed at your stressful job. Consider these tips and sign up for a class, and you will notice a big difference.
By Katie Brenneman