February is Heart Month. This is a great time to remember to take care of our hearts by adopting healthy habits and finding ways to reduce stress.
Stress is real. We see it at work, at home, and on the road. When stress becomes chronic, it can contribute to poor health behaviors that are linked to an increased risk for heart disease and stroke. A constant state of stress can sap creativity, productivity, and motivation. Poor health behaviors may include a lack of exercise, smoking/vaping, overindulging in food and alcohol, and not taking prescription medications as prescribed. Stress can also manifest itself physically as fatigue, back strain, stomach pain, and headaches.
At work, stress may be “part of the job”, but how we manage that stress has an impact on our overall health. Below you will find tips to de-stress on the job:
- Get up and move. Take a walk and give yourself space from a stressful situation.
- Stop and take a breath. Count to ten and breathe before answering that email.
- Prep heart healthy snacks when working at home or at the office or shop. Being prepared can help limit sugar and salt.
- Call or text a friend for a laugh. Laughter releases stress, and connecting with others is stress relieving.
- Get some sleep. A good night’s sleep (7-9 hours) reduces stress and gives your heart the rest it needs.
- Talk about it. Talking about stressful situations, deadlines, and metrics helps. Find a co-worker, family member, or friend that you can lean on.
How can CMI help you reduce stress at work? Let us help you with your EHS compliance programs. We have a team of EHS professionals available for:
- Site Assessments to Prioritize Compliance Gaps
- Policy Development and Implementation Planning
- Supervisor Safety Leadership Training
- EHS Compliance Training (OSHA, RCRA, DOT, IATA)
- Full-Scale Industrial Hygiene Services
- Environmental Reporting and Permit Assistance
- Check out our website for more services.
