Handling Workplace Stress
Listen to the Summary
I know the past few weeks have been hectic, and many of you are feeling overwhelmed. It’s completely normal, but we need to learn how to take a step back before stress affects our performance. I’ve noticed some of you bottling things up instead of asking for help, and that only makes things harder. Please remember that communication and teamwork make everything easier to manage.
If your workload feels too heavy, speak up so we can work something out together. We’re all on the same side here, and no one should feel like they’re facing challenges alone. I also want to encourage everyone to take short breaks during the day. Even five minutes can help you reset your focus. Stress doesn’t just disappear—it builds unless you deal with it. Let’s look out for one another and make sure we’re staying healthy, productive, and balanced.
Friend’s Text Message
I got pulled into a call during that meeting. What did the boss say about handling stress at work? Why did she tell people to “take a step back,” and what does it mean to “bottle things up”?
Student Writing Tasks
Write a text reply to your friend’s message.
Use clear, polite sentences.
Summarize what the speaker said in your own words.
Use in Your Daily Life
What do the following idioms and phrasal verbs mean in these sentences from everyday life?
When things get busy, I try to take a step back and breathe.
Don’t bottle things up—talk about how you feel.
It’s okay to speak up when something isn’t fair.
Let’s work something out before it becomes a bigger issue.
