Job-related stress amid the COVID-19 pandemic

COVID-19 has changed the way we all work. Some of us never stopped physically going to work, while others have been working remotely since mid-March. No matter where we are, working during a pandemic has added stress to our daily lives. How you deal with this stress can positively or negatively affect your well-being.

Some of the symptoms of COVID-19-related stress, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, include concern about being exposed to the disease at work, taking care of your loved ones while you’re working, managing a change in workload, and uncertainty about the future of your workplace or employment.

Manage job stress by following these tips from CDC:

• Communicate with your co-workers about job stress while maintaining physical distancing.
• Identify factors that cause you stress, and work together with your colleagues to develop solutions.
• Increase your sense of control by creating a consistent daily routine when you can. If you work from home, set a regular time to stop working each day.
• Stick to a regular sleep schedule. The National Sleep Foundation recommends seven to nine hours of sleep a night for adults.
• Take breaks from work to stretch, exercise or check in with your co-workers, family and friends.
• Get active: Spend time outdoors, either exercising or relaxing.
• Ask your supervisor or human resources department about the mental health resources your organization offers.
• During non-work hours, spend time doing activities you enjoy.
• Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns, how you’re feeling or how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting you.
• Take breaks from watching or reading news stories. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting and mentally exhausting.

For more information, go to sh-m.ag/3k6mGeR.