Workplace stress has soared over the past two years in Britain, with the pandemic aggravating problems such as overtime, presenteeism and job insecurity. 

The situation isn’t getting any better, either. As the government warns that a quarter of staff may be off work in the coming weeks due to rising Covid rates, employees left unscathed by the Omicron wave will find themselves shouldering an extra burden. 

Between New Year deadlines and depleted teams, many of us will be grappling with a workload that feels undoable – especially with the drama of a global health crisis playing out on the side lines.

When the going gets tough in this way, it can be hard to say no to extra demands. You may feel churlish not to go “that extra mile” or “pull your weight” with additional tasks and to-dos. Depending on your job (e.g. health care), saying no may not even be an option. 

However, if you can, setting boundaries at work is a really useful skill to learn. More than that, it’s crucial to preserve your health and avoid the growing risk of burnout we face in an always-on culture. The difficulty comes in trying to construct those barriers, and safeguard your wellbeing, by saying “no” to your colleagues or boss – not just once, but every time you need to. 

For anyone struggling to protect their time at work, here are eight motivational quotes from therapists, life coaches and thought leaders on Instagram that will help you do exactly that. Together, these insights help pave the way forward to a less stressed, less frenetic New Year.

Images: Getty, Instagram