Career Expert Offers Eight Steps to Reduce Work Stress and Prevent Burnout

A career coach recommends reviewing professional habits and priorities as part of efforts to manage workplace stress. The advice comes during Mental Health Awareness Month and spring-cleaning season. Amanda Augustine, resident career expert for TopResume, said cumulative stress builds in both physical and mental spaces.

She noted that 59 percent of workers report their jobs harm their mental health at least once a month.

Augustine advised taking inventory of what energized or drained energy over the past year before setting new goals. She suggested auditing skills to identify which ones support current objectives and which ones can be set aside. The coach recommended focusing on two or three relevant skills rather than attempting to learn many at once.

She also urged refreshing resumes to emphasize accomplishments aligned with future roles instead of listing all past tasks.

Augustine said professionals should curate networks by investing time in relationships that support growth. She advised setting three to five measurable goals for the year and breaking them into quarterly milestones. She recommended protecting time by delegating tasks, evaluating meeting necessity, and unplugging outside of true emergencies.

Augustine also suggested clearing low-value items such as unread job alerts and unused newsletters.

The coach proposed scheduling quarterly career reviews to assess progress and satisfaction. She encouraged documenting accomplishments for use in performance reviews and negotiations. "Spring is a natural time to pause and reassess," says Augustine.

"Most professionals get so caught up in the day-to-day demands of work that they rarely stop to ask whether their career is still aligned with their goals, priorities and values.