We all get stressed from time to time, but when you have diabetes it’s important that you try to manage it to stop those stress hormones from wreaking havoc with your blood sugar levels.
We spend most of our days at work and while we can’t eliminate stress altogether we can take a few simple steps to try and minimise it – here are a few top tips.
- Make workplace wellness a priority
Just because you’re at work it doesn’t mean your wellness should take a back seat, in fact, there are plenty of little things you can do to make your workspace feel a bit more like home.
- Add green to your scene
Plants not only improve air quality, but adding a plant or two to your desk can also have a soothing effect and make your space feel calmer.
- Hydrate
It’s not only your plants that need water! Keep a water bottle on your desk and ensure that you drink throughout the day. Staying hydrated helps you to stay alert and aid concentration.
- Natural light
Make sure you get as much natural light as possible. This will give your energy levels and productivity a boost.
- Organise and prioritise
When you feel overwhelmed you’re bound to feel stressed, so breaking tasks up into small chunks and writing them down can help things feel more manageable.
- List it out
It sounds so simple and obvious, but even just the act of writing out your tasks can help reduce that panic feeling. Whether you have a to-do list app on your phone or prefer a pen and paper, get those tasks noted down and feel the sense of achievement when you tick them off.
- Set deadlines
Often tasks without a deadline get pushed to the side, so even if you’re just setting a deadline for yourself make a note of that, but most importantly make sure it’s realistic.
- Focus on two to three tasks
Don’t try to do everything at once, take a look at that to-do list and select two or three tasks that are your priorities for that day and tackle them first.
- Get moving
Exercise is a great mood booster thanks to its endorphin-releasing properties.
- Stand up
Sitting for long periods of time isn’t good for your health, so if you’re fortunate enough to have access to a standing desk make use of it. Even if it’s just for 15 minutes at a time, standing up can stabilise your leg and core muscles while improving circulation.
- Walk it out
Rather than sit at your desk or in the break room for lunch, head out, get some fresh air and go for a walk. Of course, be sure to check your levels before doing so, only you know how long and far to go.
The above steps may seem simple, but even just acting on a couple of them can really help you to reduce that stress in the workplace now that we’re all back in the office.
Remember you know your body and your sugar levels, and while that’s your responsibility be sure to reach out to a trusted colleague who might be able to assist you if needed, even if it’s just as a sounding board.
