Three Priorities For Workplace Stress Leave

Work-related stress isn't something that you should take lightly. While there are several things that you can change to make your workday less stressful, you should also entertain the idea of taking stress leave. It's relatively easy to get your family doctor to write a note suggesting that you take a leave of absence for stress-related reasons, and many employers will take this seriously because they want to avoid a stress-related workers' compensation claim. Taking stress leave isn't just about staying away from the office. During your days or weeks at home, these three things should be a priority.

Getting Therapy

You may notice a reduction in your stress when you aren't showing up at work daily, but the stress will quickly return whenever you resume your work. Getting therapy for your stress should be a top priority when you're on leave. A long list of talk therapists can help you in this manner, but try to find a therapist who specializes in working people who are suffering from workplace stress. Your sessions will be valuable for helping you to identify the specific causes of your stress and build better coping mechanisms to handle them. Contact a center like Darling Psychology for more help.

Evaluating Your Career

Many people return to their job after a period of stress leave and thrive, given the changes that they've implemented because of their therapy. However, returning to your job shouldn't be your main focus. There's nothing wrong with also using your leave to evaluate your career and decide if it's right for you. Changing jobs may reduce your stress to some degree, but a switch in your employer doesn't automatically cause a reduction in your stress. Sometimes, certain careers can simply be stressful and thus may not be a good fit. For example, if you work in a deadline-driven industry and have struggled with stress for a long time, a change may do you good.

Looking At Other Causes Of Stress

Those who suffer from workplace stress may find that their stress doesn't end when they walk out of work at the end of the day. It's also possible that you have other causes of stress in your life, but you may not be aware of them because you're so focused on what is happening at work. Your period of leave gives you a good opportunity to identify what else is stressing you and work on changing these things. There's little value in working through your work-related stress only to end up stressed because of things happening at home.


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