Working hard is never a bad thing. However, many of us forget to take care of our physical and mental health in a bid to perform better at work.
If you're constantly feeling drained and experiencing a sense of failure or loss of motivation, these may be signs that you're burning out.
Burnout is a state of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress, which many of us experience especially as a result of work stress.
For Mental Health Awareness Month this May, marketing agency Absolute Digital Media has highlighted the importance of keeping stress at bay to prevent burnout from taking its toll.
Here are three of the best hacks from TikTok to help those struggling with anxiety or symptoms of burnout.
Put salt on your tongue
Putting salt on your tongue may not sound like the most enjoyable thing to do, but this trick will help your mind focus on something else and distract you from anxiety.
This hack is particularly useful if you're feeling signs of an anxiety attack coming on. By putting salt on your tongue, you will be able to effectively engage your senses and ground yourself before you have a full blown attack.
It's important to be aware not to use this trick too often as excessive salt can result in unpleasant side effects like high blood pressure and feeling nauseous.
Holding ice in your hands
Another clever trick to distract yourself and focus your senses elsewhere is to grab some ice cubes from the freezer.
Make sure to avoid holding the ice still and keep moving it between your hands. If it starts getting uncomfortable, run your hands under warm water - which also prevents the ice from sticking to the skin of your hands.
Using a sensory ring
Sensory rings have been designed specifically for those who suffer from anxiety. They are perfect for carrying around on the go in case you find yourself dealing with a sudden spell of worry.
These rings can be placed on your finger and are really great to fiddle with, as they apply pressure on the nerves to tactile stimulation. This in turn helps you keep your focus on the sensory ring instead of letting your thoughts spiral out of control.
Other tips to minimise anxiety
In addition to these sensory tricks to help with imminent signs of an anxiety attack, Absolute Digital Media suggests changes to how we approach our work and lifestyle to address our anxieties at its root. It suggests:
- Work With purpose - Don't work just to earn a living. Ask yourself where you want to go and strive towards that end goal.
- Acts Of kindness - Small gestures to help out people around you, whether a colleague or client, give your actions more meaning and make yourself feel good.
- Allow breaks - Acknowledge when you're starting to feel stressed and give yourself some time to take a break. Practise deep breathing, meditation or gentle exercise to bring yourself out of the stressful moment.
How do you deal with stress at work? Let us know in the comments below
