Have you been feeling stressed while on an offshore placement recently? You’re not alone.

Any form of unfamiliar environment is sure to push someone out of their comfort zone and, when you’re at sea, it can be hard to do the things you love to reclaim your mental space. 

The Difficulty of Feeling Stressed Offshore

In a normal job, you might decide to have a lazy morning (staying in bed past six!) or go for coffee with a loved one to rant for a few hours. 

By the end of the day, after some rest and doing things you enjoy, you’d feel considerably better. 

When you’re stressed in an offshore job, however, it’s completely normal to feel trapped and overwhelmed by your circumstances. 

It might even feel like you can’t get any distance from the work you do, even when you’re operating on a fair two-week rotation. 

“Occupational stress can no longer be considered an occasional, personal problem to be remedied with palliatives. It is becoming an increasingly global phenomenon, affecting all categories of workers, all workplaces and all countries. This trend, coupled with its rising cost to the individual, to industry and to society as a whole, has greatly heightened awareness of the need for effective and innovative ways of tackling stress.”  - International Labour Office

Our Top 6 Ways to Deal With Stress Offshore

As such, you need to be smart in finding ways to deal with stress that’ll help you feel rejuvenated again.

1. Eat Healthy Meals

Did you know that a balanced diet can support a healthy immune system, providing you with the extra energy required for dealing with stressful events? 

Although it can be tempting to eat your favourite comfort foods when you are feeling low, consistently eating nutritious meals will help you prepare for the worst.  See, when your body isn’t feeling run down all the time, you’ll be better equipped to stand strong against anything that comes your way.

2. Communicate With Your Team

When you are feeling stressed, the last thing you want is to have a manager hovering over you asking if there’s anything they can do to help. 

However, there’s no reason that you can’t speak to your team and express your feelings of concern. A burden shared is a burden halved.

Your colleagues and friends might be able to offer a solution that you aren’t seeing or at least offer their support. This can make a big difference to your emotional state and transform the way you see things.

3. Make the Most of Your Free Time

When you aren’t working, why not do something for yourself for a change? It can be tempting to spend a week in bed but that’ll just allow you to sit and reflect more on what’s bothering you. 

You need a distraction.

On your weeks off, do something proactive that will boost your spirits. This is a productive way to combat stress.  Visit somewhere new or go for a walk! It’s your free time, so make the most of it.

4. Exercise Frequently

Although it might feel like you are constantly on your feet at work, that doesn’t necessarily mean you are getting the benefits of exercising your body properly. You need to get your blood pumping.

Why?

Well, being physically active and working out frequently will improve your overall health and wellbeing by pumping endorphins into your body. The morning after you’ve been to the gym or gone for a run, you’ll feel like there’s nothing that can bring you down… including stress.

5. Set a Sleep Schedule

According to Sleep Score, following a regular sleeping pattern can “calm and restore the body, improving concentration, regulating your mood, and sharpening your judgement.” 

This means that, when you are getting a decent amount of sleep, you’ll feel less overwhelmed by your day-to-day decision-making and will be able to solve any problems that arise – reducing your stress levels considerably.

6. Be Honest About Your Stress

Should your feelings of stress continue in the long run, you need to prepare to be honest with yourself and your leader. 

Is there something you should be doing differently so that you don’t feel like this every day? Is there something your boss should be doing to stop you from getting so overwhelmed? 

If there’s an obvious solution (like recruiting another member of your team to reduce everyone’s workload), don’t be afraid to request support and make your needs clear.

How to Help Your Employees Feel Less Stressed During Offshore Placements

Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed or less productive, there are plenty of ways to combat stress on offshore placements. 

The most important one, though, is the necessity to offer your support and look after each other. 

Community and communication are both so vital to the offshore industry. Caring for the mental and physical health of those around you will make a big difference to everyone’s enjoyment of their work and their stress levels on a day-to-day basis.

Should you notice someone who is struggling, look for a solution to help them. By doing so, you can expect them to step up when you’re falling behind. 

This compassion and next-level support are the backbone of the work we do offshore. Our industry simply wouldn’t survive without it.

Recruit through Select Offshore

Select Offshore is a team of specialist recruiters that deliver reliable, communicative, and enthusiastic maritime professionals.

Is that you?

If you’re looking for exciting and competitive placements across any of our sectors, speak to us.

We can connect you with a company that cares for its human resources and recognises the importance of adhering to your rights.

Our team strongly believes in celebrating each of the individuals we work with, dedicating time to find them desirable offshore placements. 

Contact us today to find out more.