Growl.  That’s what I usually do when I get frustrated and hit a stress wall – until last week. Bill from our production team walked by my desk and did a double take because I was playing with what he thought was PlayDoh.  After pulling out a can of Thinking Putty that a coworker surprised me with, I assured him it was a real stress-relieving tool. He smiled and wanted to try it out himself.
Hi. I’m Megan. And I’m a recovering stress-a-holic.
While I don’t consider myself particularly strong at managing the stressful moments in my life, I’ve started to realize that it’s taking a toll.
To me there is a definite difference between work and home life stress – being able to compartmentalize and work through them separately is extremely important.  Let’s face it. Each can have a huge impact on the other areas of life.  When you’re in a bad mood at work, no one wants to hear excuses about how you have 10 loads of laundry and a messy kitchen piling up on you.  Being able to manage that stress is worth the effort you put into it.
Need some help to start?
Breathe. I know from personal experience that it’s easy to take on too much and over promise without even realizing it.  A quick 5-minute mental breather, eating lunch off site, or a cuddle with that puppy at home could provide the break your hard working brain needs to regain control.
Pinpoint the cause. Think about what has the most impact on your stress level.  Maybe the thought of having to plan dinner for your family, your son’s crazy soccer schedule, or a new project you’ve taken on at work is pushing you over the edge. Stop and mentally recognize it.
Ease the pain.  Once you’ve narrowed down what is causing you stress, figure out how to ease it.  Talking it out with your coworkers or family may lead you to new solutions just by saying your stress points aloud.  A helping hand at home doing dishes after dinner, a kids carpool with the neighbor, or a second opinion that validates your hard work on that work project might make all the difference in lightening the load.
Channel that energy.  Find a workout schedule that fits your lifestyle and grind out your stress at the gym.  Grab a workout partner and take a cardio class together. Or better yet, use my inspiration for this article as a part of your daily stress management and stretch, tear, sculpt, or bounce away some stressful energy.
Stress sucks, so let’s work on it together. How do you manage feeling fatigued and irritable, especially at work? Share your stress-coping ideas below – and I just might share some Thinking Putty with you.

Kentucky Fried Sales Chick Megan Pierce is a recovering stress-a-holic – and she’s likely not alone. When you’re tired, irritated, and carrying around multiple stresses in your life, what do you do? Share in the comments or with Megan directly.