Managing your Stress to Prevent Burnout

We’ve all heard how stress can affect our health but telling someone not to stress is like telling them not to think of a polar bear. So, what are some real ways to help manage your stress levels?

All work and no play can make Jack or Jill a basket case.

Most of us know that too much stress is bad for us, but it’s not quite so black and white. Research indicates that most people perform at their best and feel at their best when they are under some degree of pressure. However, once that pressure starts to increase to the point where it becomes overwhelming, performance begins to decline.

Ideally, we are meant to experience stress in short bursts as a response to threat. When this happens, we experience what is called 'autonomic arousal' in our sympathetic nervous system. Our heart rate increases, our bodies are flooded with adrenalin, our mind becomes focused and our creativity switches on to give us the resources to deal with the threat. Once we have successfully defeated or escaped the problem, we go through a 'comedown' experience that can involve collapse, shaking, sighing and tiredness.

If the stress continues, our bodies go into a second-level response. We receive the continual input of a hormone called cortisol, which makes us irritable and aggressive. We also see others as hostile, we have trouble sleeping, suffer poor digestion and experience a range of health issues, such as high blood pressure and insulin resistance. Most importantly, our ability to focus and be creative is reduced.

Too much stress over a continued period of time leads to poor performance, health problems, anxiety and depression. A chronically stressed person is on the fast track to burnout.

There are several ways to help avoid burnout. Setting clear guidelines about how much work you take on is one. You can also work to specified hours and make sure you build some relaxation time into every week. You might feel guilty, but it’s also a good idea to turn off your phone in the evenings or on weekends. Working from home can make this even harder to do, but that’s why it’s so important to set these boundaries.

If you can’t go cold turkey from your phone, try it for just a few hours at a time. Without the distraction, you’ll find more time for the things you love. Optus Pause is a great way to do this, with the ability to set timers for how long you pause any devices connected to your WiFi network.

Another way to manage stress is to plan holidays. One weekend away from home each month and a mid-year break (or two) where you take four to five days to get away can make all the difference.

Stress can be dangerous - so take control before it takes control of you and ask yourself this question: what’s one thing you can change today to start lightening the load? Then you’re on your way.

Optus Pause Terms & Conditions

Available to Optus consumer and SMB (exc TechFund and Fleet) customers with an eligible mobile, home internet and/or nbn service (up to max. of 30 Optus services). Enabling Optus Pause will disable access to data (via mobile and/or WiFi) to the selected Optus services and devices for the chosen period. Use of standard calls and SMS on the selected Optus services will not be affected. Customers must use an internet connection and be verified as the account holder to enable or disable Optus Pause. Optus Pause is an optional extra available at no additional cost and does not form part of a plan. If a service that is roaming is included in Optus Pause its mobile connectivity will not be paused. Usual charges will continue to apply when Optus Pause is enabled. We may need to remove Optus Pause from an account from time to time, due to system or other issues. While Optus Pause is active we may allow internet access to certain Optus or other websites at our discretion, which may change from time to time. Access to Optus Pause requires the latest version of My Optus app. Optus Pause may be withdrawn without notice.