
Managing Stress: Tips for HR Professionals
Written by Serena Pawluk
If being a “people” person is part of who you are, it’s likely also the main reason why most of us in the HR profession make the decision to get into human resources – we love people! We love to see people grow, thrive, and be at their best. What many outside of human resources do not know, or possibly do not realize, is that it can be quite stressful to be an HR Professional.
Most people will say that HR is there for the people, but who is there for HR?
According to an article in livingtalentus.com, a survey of over 16,000 HR professionals shows that 79% of HR employees reported unhealthy levels of job stress, making them the most stressed out professionals.
Since feeling the stresses that accompany the role of HR are inevitable, it is important to manage the stresses. Here are a few tips to help you along the way:
- Identify What Is Causing Your Stress
Once you “know” what is causing your stress, you then know “how” to address it. If it is a more complicated stressor, many companies have EAP programs to help with virtually any problem you may have. Another great resource available across Canada is 211.ca, especially helpful when an EAP program is not accessible. - Breathe
Sometimes we can address anxiety with a simple breathing technique. VeryWellMind.com is a great website with nine different techniques to get you started. - Be As Good to Yourself As You Are to Others
This tip is quite important. If you don’t take time for you, you are not as happy as you could be. So do not feel guilty doing things for you. Have that bubble bath, read that book, or watch that movie. You deserve it! - Positivity Is Your Friend
Train your mind to find the positivity in everything. If you look hard enough, I promise every situation has something positive in it. Mindset is key here. Here is a great article to help you start your positivity journal. – - Join ChillHR
The lack of support from C-suite leaders has been a long-time problem. Many professionals do not feel that they have the proper support needed to succeed. ChillHR has created a social community where you can connect with other HR Professionals to: support on another; email directly; connect with others in chat forums; download resources; and attend online events for you personally as well as your work.

Serena Pawluk is passionate about helping and serving others. She is a mother of 3 (now adult) children, and is married to an amazing man. She is also “mom” to a fluffy bunny named Munro and to a senior lab name Shadow. Serena is a true social butterfly who enjoys networking with people, meeting new people, and lending a supporting hand whenever possible.
Want to be featured on our blog?
Become an Annual Member!
Receive access to mentorship, opportunities for promotion, and so much more…