Stress at work is inevitable. You can’t stop it from coming, but you can change the way you handle it.
A stressful work environment or workplace stress can contribute to problems such as headache, stomachache, sleep disturbances, short temper, and difficulty concentrating.
Instead of having a meltdown right in the middle of the office, why not try one of these quick and end easy stress reducers?
Take A Break.
It’s easy to let your feelings take over when everyone around you seems like an idiot! But, remember, your fellow workers are just trying to get through the day the best they can too.
Instead of losing your cool, try taking a quick break. Walking away from the situation helps.
Take a walk to another department. Breathe deeply as you go. Get a cool drink of water. Grab some gum and chew away your anxieties. Basically, try to shift your attention away from what’s causing you angst, to help you better handle it when you return.
Get Support.
Sometimes, the thing that is stressing you most is also fraying everyone else’s nerves too. Can’t take the copier breaking down one more time? Maybe it’s time for you and other office staff to request a new one. Worried that you’re not going to meet your big deadline?
Delegate some of the smaller priorities, or ask for help. Oftentimes, we take on more than we can handle unnecessarily, when others in the office are more than willing to roll up their sleeves and help out.
Even if the main responsibility rests with you, sometimes, just having a trustworthy sounding board is enough to get us through and help ease some of the burden.
Be Kind to Yourself.
The more stress we feel, the harder we seem to be on ourselves. Feeling overwhelmed with that new project? Don’t react by telling yourself you can’t handle it – chances are you can! Ease some of that stress by reprioritizing and rescheduling deadlines.
Find A Solution.
Every problem has a solution. You just have to find it. Worrying about a problem or stressing over your lack of control over a work-related issue won’t solve anything. Tackling it head on might. No matter what is causing stress in your work life, look for a solution, then find a way to implement it. If you find you cannot find it yourself, seek support of others.
Remain Positive.
The most important thing to remember about stress is this: most of it is temporary. It may seem like things will never change, or get better, but they tend to ebb and flow, getting better, and then getting worse again.
Try to stay positive through even the most stressful situation and you may find that it gets better faster, (or at least seems to), and is a lot more tolerable than when you let yourself get stuck in a downward spiral of stress and anxiety.
There will always be stresses at work beyond your control. The key to handling those situations is realizing that sometimes you’ll hit a snag, but eventually you’ll also break free and find life at work more tolerable once again.
Some other helpful tips are:
- Track your stressors. Keep a journal for a week or two to identify which situations create the most stress and how you respond to them
- Develop healthy responses. Instead of attempting to fight stress with fast food or alcohol, do your best to make healthy choices when you feel the tension rise. Exercise is a great stress-buster. Yoga can be an excellent choice, but any form of physical activity is beneficial
- Establish boundaries. We are living in a digital world, it’s easy to feel pressure to be available 24 hours a day. Establish some work-life boundaries for yourself.
- Take time to recharge – do not bring your work home
- Learn how to relax. Try mediation or yoga.
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