Week 9 Blog

Through this assessment, I learned that my ability to manage stress depends heavily on the environment and support systems around me. My low score of 33 doesn’t fully reflect how capable I can be when the conditions are right. During my summer job in San Francisco, I maintained a healthy routine, explored a new city, and had my sister nearby for support. Those factors helped me stay balanced and confident, even while adapting to a completely unfamiliar place. This experience showed me that I function best when I have structure, social connection, and reliable outlets outside of work. It also made me aware that taking a job in an isolating or high-cost environment, without family or friends nearby, would likely increase my stress rather than reduce it, which influenced my decision not to accept a full-time position there.

As I move forward in my career, I can use this awareness to build better long-term habits. That includes prioritizing work–life balance, maintaining supportive relationships, and choosing roles or locations where I can create healthy routines. Research shows that chronic stress, burnout, and work–life conflict are major concerns for organizations today, and many companies are investing in programs to help employees cope. Common strategies include Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), mental-health resources, flexible scheduling, remote-work options, wellness initiatives, and manager training to recognize signs of burnout. Many organizations also incorporate holistic health programs, such as mindfulness workshops, fitness benefits, and stress-management training, to reduce the physical and emotional impact of demanding work. Understanding these trends not only helps me manage my own well-being but also prepares me, as a manager, to support employees with the same care and balance that helped me succeed.