What’s Stressing You Out?

Sometimes I get stress headaches and I can't figure out where they come from because I had a perfectly fine productive day at work. Just like I feel tired and I don't know why because I slept well and I'm sure that there are a myriad of things that bug the crap out of me and make me irritable. I wanted to know what was stressing me out and enjoy doing research so I found this list of what stresses us out the most and it may not be completely obvious that this is what's driving us bonkers. 

Open Floor Plans

It used to be that offices were separated by partitions. Now a lot of offices have more open floor plans so it's not as quiet as it may have once been so it's more stressful. Your brain is constantly being distracted and working overtime so it's harder to concentrate and that could lead to headaches. Keep an aromatherapy oil (Origins makes a good one) you can rub on your temples or a diffuser at your desk. I'm a big fan of the diffusers. When the oil is gone and the reeds are dry, I like to put them in my lingerie drawer or under my pillow.

Sleeping With a Night Light

Your body is set up to be awake in the daylight so when you go to bed, your room should be as dark as possible. If you sleep in a bedroom with a lot of light in it, your body gets confused and you may not be able to sleep as well. Room darkening shades or blinds with dark curtains should be used to keep as much light out as possible. It's also a good idea to use an alarm clock with red numbers to cut down on the amount of light in your bedroom. If you must have a night light on, try a sleep mask. That way you can get the benefit of a night light and total darkness.

Using a Smart Phone

I have one and I love it. I can do anything on it and that's the exact issue. It was supposed to make my life easier and less stressful, but nay. When we have a smart phone, others expect that we be available whenever and wherever they need us. Research shows that our stress levels actually go up the more we check our emails, text messages and news feeds. Sometimes there are jobs where you have to have your phone on you all of the time, but pick a specific time of day where you can't be reached and don't forget to let others know. Maybe just select 15 minutes or a half an hour when you're not available. Shut your phone off and do your thing. It could be when you're at the gym or making dinner, but it's best to just unplug for a little while once per day.

Want more? Cracked.com is the spot! It may not be totally safe for work, but there's a lot of great info on there.