Holiday Stress Relief
The holidays may be a time of joy, but they aren't always a time of peace. Balancing your family's expectations with work commitments and social obligations can make this the most stressful time of the year. At the office or jobsite, you may discover that the work is still coming in, but most of your colleagues aren't. You may even be planning to take some time off yourself.
Fatigue, rushing, and distractions are all major contributors to stress, which often leads to accidents and mistakes. Injuries in the workplace occur most often when they’re not expected and are more likely to happen when we are tired or run-down. From a health and safety perspective, it’s important to consider how these issues affect us on site, on the road, or at home to keep yourself and co-workers safe this holiday season.
Holiday Safety Hazards
Fatigue
Prioritize your physically and mentally by staying hydrating, well rested, and eating right.
Rushing
Don't rush to beat the clock and get the job to quickly. Continue to work at a steady and safe pace.
Distractions
Stay focused on the task at hand and try not to let your mind wander to other holiday obligations.
Tips to Manage Holiday Stress
Before the season gets too busy, try these strategies for reducing holiday stress in the workplace.
Create a calendar for the holiday period, noting who will be at work on which days. If you know in advance that the office will be short-staffed at certain times, you can make plans. This might include reassigning essential tasks, prioritizing duties or hiring temporary help. If most of the office is on vacation, just having an extra person there to answer the telephone could reduce your stress level dramatically.
What absolutely has to be done today, and what can wait until after the holidays? Ask yourself this question when you begin to feel stress at work. If a task can be held for completion in a week or two, set it aside.
One reason for holiday stress is the desire to make everything "perfect." If you're working during this season, you may have less time for shopping, cooking, social events or travel. Lower your stress level by simplifying your holiday plans.
If you're going on vacation, organize your desk before leaving. Label files so that others can find information easily and leave a list of projects that you're working on. If something needs to be done in your absence, leave written instructions. Your voice mail message should include the date of your return and the name and telephone number of someone in the office who could take an urgent message.
Fatigue, headache, elevated blood pressure, shortness of breath, increased irritability and insomnia. These are all symptoms of stress. You can reduce these symptoms by taking care of yourself during the holiday season. Eat balanced meals, get plenty of sleep, avoid alcohol and exercise regularly. Exercise is particularly important for energy and good health during the holiday season. Get a head start on your New Year's resolution: Talk to your doctor now about creating the right exercise program for you.
If work becomes too stressful, stop and take a number of slow, deep breaths. Inhale, count to 3 slowly and gradually exhale. After 4 or 5 breaths, you probably will feel much more relaxed.
When your co-workers are on vacation, the phone's ringing off the hook, your inbox is filing up, and you still haven't finished your holiday shopping, the season may not seem quite so jolly. Nevertheless, do something to remember the real spirit of the holidays. Consider donating gifts to a needy family, collecting canned food for a local shelter, or volunteering at a local nonprofit. You might find this is the best "stress reliever" of all.
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NOTE: Always promote a discussion on any of the topics covered in the Tool Box Talks. Should any question arise that you cannot answer, don’t hesitate to contact your Employer.