Returning to the office in September post-vacation may be a huge shock for many people. Relaxed after a summer rest, they cannot find themselves in their daily routine and are unable to work at full capacity; they have to catch up, meet new responsibilities and prepare for possible changes. Moreover, the weather changes and colder days keep coming! All of this causes enormous stress – employees are depressed, distracted, and deprived of energy and motivation. This yearan additional stress factor is also the ubiquitous coronavirus pandemicand related restrictionswhich significantly affect the work environment and everyday life.

In order to overcome September stress, it is worth introducing a few small changes to your everyday life that will positively affect the quality of your work and well-being.

 

Here are a few of them:

1.  Plan your time skillfully and set a priority list

Organize yourself in different areas of life – get an organizer, calendar or application for saving tasks and events and try to update them on regular basis. Prioritize your tasks and consider postponing or even cancelling events. Scheduling duties will help you avoid unnecessary stress and improve your quality of life.

2. Focus on one task

During your work, try to concentrate fully on one task and finish it before starting the next one. Many people consider multitasking to be a very desirable trait by which success can be achieved much easier and faster, however, this belief is wrong – many studies show that multitasking has more disadvantages than advantages. Multitaskers, while performing multiple tasks simultaneously, waste time on trivial things and the efficiency of their work decreases. Thus, they do not save their precious time  they distract faster and make mistakes more often.

3. Be assertive and do not take too much on yourself

Set your limits and do not be afraid to say no. Do not take on too many tasks and activities – try to maintain a balance between work and private life. You can also ask your colleagues for help at any time. You need to give yourself time to get back to your daily routine!

4. Think about the positive aspects of your job

Focus on the positive sides of your work – what values this job brings, what you learn, and which opportunities you have for personal selfdevelopment. You work in a great, wellcoordinated team and you like what you do? Appreciate it and try to be positive!

5. Take care of your health

Taking care of your health will positively affect your productivity. Eat nutritionally rich meals, do not skip breakfast and avoid junk food! The better we eat, the more efficient and energetic we are. Be sure to get adequate rest, as well – try to sleep at least 7 hours and mantain the same daily bedtime. Also, remember to exercise – choose a sport you like and include it in your schedule. Physical activity releases endorphins that help fight stress and eliminate anxiety.

6. Take time trelax

You cannot forget about time for yourself! If your schedule is very tight, even a few minutes of meditation, a short walk, or a morning coffee within peace and quiet is enough to regenerate your body and mind and get away from your everyday life.