4 Tips to Use Gratitude to Deal with Holiday Stress at Work
Simply Hired Staff
The holidays can be stressful–end of the year reviews, deciding what gifts to buy your boss, and finishing up projects before everyone goes on vacation can really take a toll on someone. The best way to deal with stress is to practice gratitude daily. Here are four ways you can make time for gratitude in your already busy, hectic life.
List out things that make you feel grateful
Make time for five minutes in your schedule, set a timer and quickly jot down your blessings, what makes life easier, and what makes you happy. Everyone can find five minutes to spare, and after the exercise you’ll realize that five minutes is a long time. Not only will you gain some perspective on how much time you have in your day which can help with managing stress, but you’ll also be pleasantly surprised by your long list of blessings in your life.
Say thank you
Most people feel stressed during the holiday season which can cause a lot of tension during meetings or maybe even a snide remark or two over email. A simple thank you will ease tense situations and help spread the holiday cheer. You can also consider writing a LinkedIn recommendation for one of your deserving colleagues who have been doing an excellent job at work. They might even return the favor for you, which is a win-win for both of you.
Create a daily reminder
A daily reminder to be grateful during the work day can be used to trigger a sense of calm when you’re feeling stressed. If you’re a visual person, you can hang a photo of a tranquil scene and every time you look at it, you’ll remember to relax. Some people like to wear a bracelet or band that they touch every time they’re feeling overwhelmed to calm down. Another way is setting an alarm at a certain time of day to make it a mandatory break from everything work-related.
Try meditation
Some of have trouble just being grateful for the present moment. We tend to be caught with what will make us happy in the future, or still dwelling about past mistakes from our past. If you’re having trouble being thankful with your current situation, meditation is a tool you can use to be content in the present. According to Huffington Post’s How to Meditate at Work, “You can meditate while walking to your next meeting, stepping outside for a quick break, standing by the copy machine or going to the bathroom. The key to meditation is to stay grounded and aware of your thoughts.” You can meditate everywhere! If you start focusing on your thoughts and the present moment, all stress and anxiety start to become manageable.
