Is it time to stop feeling so stressed at work?

As we approach the end of the year, it is a time when many of us take the opportunity to review our careers, think about what has happened over the past year and work out the next steps in our working lives.

This may sound straightforward and productive, especially if you have had an exciting and fulfilling year. However, for some people, it can feel complicated and out of reach. They may have had a difficult year and be struggling to work out what their future career could look like. They feel miserable, stressed and fed up with their working lives.

If you feel like this, don’t panic. It is possible to move forward with your career to a better place. However, this may mean initially concentrating on replenishing your energy levels and improving your well-being.

Feeling fed up at work can affect your well-being, causing motivation to decrease and stress levels to rise. The winter months can intensify these feelings, with darker evenings and colder days. By looking after your well-being, you may begin to feel better and find more motivation to concentrate on your next career steps.

One way to support your well-being is to start making a weekly diary of activities you can do that help you feel better about the world. These activities could include:

• Exercise – doing something physically active.
• Social arrangements – building and maintaining relationships.
• Activities that provide a sense of achievement – perhaps you could learn something new.
• Activities that provide enjoyment – what do you enjoy doing?

Try to include activities from all four categories in your diary. You do not need to cover every category each day, but aim for a good balance across the week.

It doesn’t have to be complicated. Meeting a friend for coffee can be both enjoyable and social. Going for a run may give you a sense of achievement while helping you remain active. Reading a book can be enjoyable and mentally stimulating.

Keep it simple. Over time, these activities may support your self-esteem, happiness and motivation.

By improving your well-being, you may start to feel motivated again and better able to move forward with your career.