How to Combat Stress at Work

According to research studies the number of people who are stressed at work is not only exceedingly high but is continuing to grow each and every day.  Numbers show that those who are “extremely” stressed at work range between 29-40%.  And when asked, in many recent polls, over half of respondents said they are so stressed at work that they feel close to complete and total burnout much of the time.  Stress at work is not only hinders you from getting your job done and focusing on the task at hand but it can also cause significant health problems that range from benign cold and flus to more serious illnesses, such as: heart disease and metabolic syndrome.  Because stress at work is so common, finding a low-stress job is nearly impossible so a more simpler and realistic choice is to adopt more effective strategies to reduce stress at work so let’s discuss them.

First off, start your day off right.  While you might be exhausted from the previous tedious day at work, try getting up a little early from time to time and having some alone time to yourself.  Go for a walk or grab a cup of morning coffee, especially in the spring or summer when you can sit outside in the nice weather and catch some relaxation and a cool breeze.  If you have a family, spend some time with them.  Have morning breakfasts together and catch up on personal things you’ve missed hearing out on due to constantly being consumed by work.

Stop worrying.  Don’t project what your day at work will be like before it begins.  If you imagine the stress before it starts, you are only likely to create it and make it a reality or rather, a self-fulfilling prophecy.  Learn to live one day at a time.  You don’t have to get everything done all at once.  Set priorities and create a task list.  Do the most important things first so that you don’t get overwhelmed.

Learn to set limits.  You can only get so much done in one day.  Take time for yourself if you can manage to pull yourself away from your desk.  Try to take a lunch break or at least a fifteen or twenty minute stroll around the block.  If you have some downtime, maybe even go to the gym for a workout or answer some personal emails or check your social media accounts.  While you can’t be doing this all the time, it’s O.K. to do it once in a while.

Get organized.  Before you leave work for the day, try to plan out the next day’s routine or think about the tasks you have to get accomplished on your commute to the office.  Clean up your desk and put all important reminders in your calendar.  Create to-do lists and stick to them.  In essence, get rid of the clutter.  Being organized with your times means less stress when you leave for work in the morning and when you head home for the day.

Make yourself comfortable at work.  Bring some pictures of loved ones to put up on your desk or bulletin board.  Order a comfortable chair or back or footrest.  If you can, try listening to soft, soothing music as you work.  Office noise can be distracting so do whatever you need to do to tune it out.  It’s not just your body that needs comfort but your brain too.

While learning how to multitask is key to workplace success and getting the job done quickly and efficiently, you don’t always have to.  As I said, do the most important things first so they get all your time and attention and you’ll find that you can then do your job to the best of your ability.  Splitting your focus and attention too much, can leave you feeling frazzled and disorganized.

Keep perfectionism in check.  While it’s good to be Type-A at times and have a meticulous eye for detail, don’t beat yourself up if everything you do isn’t perfect.  Learn the difference between was needs to be perfect and what doesn’t.  Important documents that go out to clients need to be perfect to an extent but interoffice work such as memos or specific office documents don’t need to be 100% clean.  Remember, we all make mistakes and sometimes being too much of a perfectionist can be a hindrance and only add stress to your work-life.  If you constantly feel the need to be perfect, you can’t achieve your long-term goals and at the end of the day, it simply wastes time.

Think positively.  Don’t beat yourself up unnecessarily.  Believe you can get the job done, and you will.  Avoid negative co-workers and office gossip that take your focus away from the tasks at hand.  Give yourself a pat on the back every once in a while for the goals you have achieved.  Be your own biggest advocate and cheerleader.  A self-pep talk from time to time never hurt anyone either.

Have some fun once in a while.  Try to find the humor in your work.  Relax and take a breather and realize that deadlines aren’t always life and death.  Think about what you enjoy about work and what you’re good at and take advantage of the opportunities you’re given and the work you’re entrusted with.

Lastly and most importantly, remember what work truly “means” at the end of the day.  It’s not just about the money you make; it’s about the sense of value and accomplishment it adds to your life.  If you realize that your efforts are making a positive impact on the company you work for, that can only add to your self-esteem and help you combat the day-to-day stresses of work.

So what have we learned here today?  Have you used some of these methods before to derail stress at work or have you found more effective means that work better for you?  Leave a comment and let me know your thoughts.  Let’s start up a meaningful conversation!

Source:  http://businessinthecity.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/how-to-combat-stress-at-work.html