Balancing work and life pressures

Young people in major cities are facing intense competitive pressure in both their work and personal lives. Maintaining balance in this hectic pace and finding necessary breaks to restore creativity is a challenging problem for many young people today.

A difficult choice

Upon receiving her termination notice from the company, Ms. Mai Phuong (30 years old, a marketing employee residing in Ho Chi Minh City) was taken aback, as she had only been with the company for less than half a year. “Because I had only recently started working, I didn’t plan on changing jobs, especially since this job suited me relatively well. Therefore, being laid off by the company came as a surprise and left me feeling disappointed,” Ms. Phuong said sadly.

Young people enjoy themselves in the park, which helps improve their health and reduce stress in their lives.

Having experienced this feeling herself, Ms. Phuong understands it deeply. In her field, if she doesn't continuously improve and upgrade her skills, she will easily fall behind. Especially at this time, finding a job that matches her expertise is even more difficult, as most companies are entering a period of stabilizing their workforce.

As a final-year communications student, Khanh Nguyen (22 years old, residing in Ho Chi Minh City) has been diligently waiting for an internship opportunity since the Lunar New Year. She says she has sent applications to more than 10 different companies, not to mention relying on her connections. However, she has received no response from most, despite being quite confident in her resume, which includes an IELTS score of 6.5 and experience as a collaborator for many large entertainment programs and events. “For months, I’ve been so worried I’ve lost sleep because most of my friends have already found internships, or even paid jobs, even before officially graduating,” she recounts. Most recently, she proudly shared that a company offered her a trial period, but she has to accept a rather long commute of over 20km.

Building a "mental immune system"

Nowadays, young people face numerous life pressures: work, career advancement opportunities, family, social relationships, and more. Signs such as mental fatigue, stress, and lack of motivation are often overlooked, but they subtly impact work performance and quality of life. And, in many cases, this has led to serious health complications.

Ms. Thuy Trang (29 years old, sales employee, residing in Ho Chi Minh City) deeply felt the pressure of juggling multiple tasks simultaneously. After a long day of work, she would study late into the night to prepare for her postgraduate studies. The overwhelming pressure caused her to fall into a state of depression and constant anxiety. At one point, she even experienced temporary amnesia, causing her family to worry and seek treatment from a psychologist, forcing her to stop all work.

“Mental immunity isn't something you develop naturally; it needs to be cultivated through correct choices and behaviors, repeated daily to strengthen the mind, like vaccinating the body. In the digital age, this is a crucial life skill to help each person become immune to mental harm. Only when we master information and emotions can we live meaningful and happy lives,” shared MSc. Vo Minh Thanh, Department of Psychology, Ho Chi Minh City University of Education.

Sharing on the "Life Stories" program, Dr. Lam Minh Hieu, a specialist in Clinical Psychology at the University Medical Center of Ho Chi Minh City, stated that mental health is a common problem among office workers due to work pressure, relationships, and performance targets. "Early signs often include sleep disorders, followed by negative emotions such as anxiety, stress, irritability, and avoidance of communication. When prolonged, this state causes employees to lose energy, become depressed, and lose motivation," Dr. Lam Minh Hieu emphasized.

Accepting emotions instead of avoiding them, maintaining activities like yoga or exercise, taking breaks from work when overly stressed, and seeking support from appropriate professionals are some solutions shared by experts. These help reduce stress while simultaneously boosting mental resilience. Only by listening to oneself, proactively caring for oneself, and seeking support at the right time can each individual build a stronger foundation for working effectively, living a balanced life, and achieving greater resilience in the long journey ahead.

HAI DUY

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/can-bang-ap-luc-cong-viec-va-cuoc-song-post852328.html