Changing Direction During Stress Awareness Month

It’s no secret that Americans are grappling with more stress than ever, and during Stress Awareness Month, we think it’s important to talk about it. We’ve been dealing with the challenges that come from living with the COVID-19 pandemic for more than a year now, and even as we head toward something like normal, many people are still feeling burnt out and stressed.

It’s likely not hard to trace the source of that stress — the strain of lockdowns, homeschooling children while working remotely, worry over the health of ourselves and our loved ones — but for many people, it’s related to burnout at work. Surveys show that 75% of people have experienced burnout at work, but a whopping 40% of people have experienced burnout during the pandemic specifically. For some, this may be related to the sudden changes in office structure or juggling more work and family responsibilities than normal. For others, the burnout may have been a long time coming, brought on by a work culture that isn’t a good fit, a job that isn’t enjoyable, or the frustration that can come from working to achieve someone else’s goals instead of your own.

Finding a job that makes you happy is a great way to lower stress levels permanently. And as we turn the corner on the pandemic, it may be time to consider following a different path — a path that puts you at the helm of your own career and allows you to make a positive impact on your community.

Franchising with ATC Healthcare comes with a variety of benefits that contribute to a lower stress work environment than you may be dealing with now. One of the largest advantages our franchisees boast about is the incredible back office support our corporate headquarters provides. We take care of all of the invoicing, payroll, collections or human resources needs our franchisees may have so they can focus on the work that is most important to them.

Franchising with ATC Healthcare also allows you to start with a proven business model, eliminating the guesswork that comes from opening a brand-new business from scratch. Our experienced franchise team guides you every step of the way, and continues to provide support all throughout your career as an ATC Healthcare franchisee.

This Stress Awareness Month, spend some time taking stock of your current situation. If your career is the source of your burnout, it may be time for a change, and we’d be happy to talk you through all the benefits franchising with ATC has to offer. In the meantime, take advantage of these tips to bring your stress levels down.

Stress-Reducing Tips

1. Sit quietly for a moment and focus on your breathing. Breathing deeply for even just a few minutes can help your body relax, and it sends messages to your brain and the rest of your body to slow down.
2. Take some time to exercise. Even a quick walk helps your body release endorphins, which physically makes your body feel better.
3. Take a break and step away from the task that’s stressing you. Use this time to reset, rather than to check emails, social media, or other things that might ramp up your stress levels.
4. Unplug—social media can trigger stress more than people may realize, and taking some time away from social media platforms may help you reset your perspective.
5. Listen to some music. While studies show classical music can be particularly calming, listening to any type of music that you enjoy will elevate your levels of dopamine, the “happy” neurochemical.

Reach out to us to learn more about becoming a franchisee and joining our ATC Healthcare franchise family.