In our hectic lives, it’s difficult to avoid stress all the time. Feeling too much under emotional or mental pressure seems to be an inevitable fallout if one has a demanding job or if one has to juggle too many responsibilities at home or in office. Relationships can often be a source of constant worry and stress. Conversely, do not let stress affect your relationships with others.
Prioritise: Experts stress that one needs to get his or her priorities in order before anything else. No one will be castigated if he or she makes work or career the topmost priority in life. But care must be taken that relationships are not made the casualty in the process. "Getting your priorities right should be the first step," says Dr. Sushmita Haldar, a family therapist, based in Kolkata.
Strike a balance: Of course, your friends and relatives will be proud if you are dedicated to your work. But they might find it unacceptable if you show absolutely no concern for family matters that are crying for your attention, "You need to strike a balance – you need to find a way to straddle both your public and personal life," says Dr. Haldar. "When you show dedication to work, the effects are tangible – a salary at the end of the month, promotion, increment, etc. But you can't see the effects your complete devotion to work is having on your family. You may think that you should complete your work first as your family will always be there and you can deal with them later. It's a wrong approach – don't take relationships for granted."
Learn to say no: Particularly in your work sphere. Your superiors or colleagues might be piling work on you, but you must think how much of it is going to affect your relationships. Learn to say no if you think that there's an unjust and excessive load imposed on you.
Time management: This is crucial in this day and age for maintaining harmony between work and life. No matter how great the pressure is, extract time for people who you feel is really close to you. "You need to devote at least one day in a week for your family," says Dr. Haldar, adding that one can easily cut down on the time spent in social media or watching TV.
One-on-one interactions: It has almost become our habit to wish friends and relatives on special occasions only on social media platforms. We take the shortcut these days, instead of calling them up or meeting them in person, we think we have done our duty just by conveying our messages through WhatsApp or Facebook. If you really want to strengthen your bond with friends and family members, meet them!
Pincode matters: According to a report by Regus, a global workplace solutions provider, about 36 percent of Indians spend more than 90 minutes commuting to work every day. So it makes sense if you can look for a home closer to your workplace.
No work, after work: After you have put in your work hours, switch off. Try not to take work home. There's no point in carrying your bag of worries home – instead listen to music, go for retail therapy or catch up with friends after work.