As much as we all love working and having jobs, that can sometimes be the main source of our stress. Office politics, failure to reach targets and grieve from the bosses and even colleagues can break you.
Read the tips below on ways to deal with work related stress.
- Reach Out For Support:It is sometimes a good idea to reach out to a trusted colleague, friend or family member to talk about the stresses you may be facing. Talking about your stresses is an excellent way of lifting some weight from your shoulders and others’ sympathy and support will allow you to feel somewhat better in yourself. Other workers within your company tend to be helpful as they are likely experiencing or have experienced what you are going through and can offer you advice. Loneliness can increase your vulnerability to stress and anxiety, so reach out.
- Keep Your Body Healthy And Your Mind Will Follow:When you have other things on your mind, it’s easy to forget to take care of your body with a balanced diet, plenty of water and exercise. These things can improve your physical health and can therefore allow you to feel better in yourself. Even small changes such as a 20 minute walk can improve your heart health and lift your mood. Have less of the things which can negatively affect your mood including cigarettes, alcohol, fizzy drinks, sweets, cakes, and fatty food. Aim for 7 to 8 hours of sleep, too much or too little can negatively impact your productivity and energy levels. Also turning off mobiles and technology an hour before bed can increase the quality of your sleep.
- Prioritise And Balance Your Workload:Create a balanced schedule of work and play. Overworking yourself will increase your chances of being stressed. Everybody needs time to relax. Leave your work at work. If it’s possible, do not take home any work as this should be your time for relaxation. Ensure you are refreshed for the following working day. Create a list of all tasks you need to complete, listed in order or importance/nearest deadline. This will allow you to focus your energy on the most significant tasks. Try not to switch between numerous tasks before completing them. You will be more stressed and less productive if you give in to multitasking.
- Break Your Bad Habits:Bad habits in the workplace can include having unrealistic targets and having perfectionistic traits. Just aim to do your best rather than having goals which all but ensure you will fail. Do not try to control something which is uncontrollable. Many things are out of our control, such as what other people do or don’t do. Focus on how you react to these situations rather than trying to control them. Be early. Rushing around every morning before work will mean you begin your day feeling stressed. Set your alarm earlier and be early, giving yourself time for breakfast and a small break before you begin your work.
5.Think Positive, Practise Mindfulness: By focusing on the negative side of every situation, you may find your motivation and energy levels decrease. Thinking positively is a great way to feel inspired to complete your tasks to the best of your ability. Challenge your negative thoughts by rewording them into positives. Writing down 3 things you enjoyed about the day before you go to bed will allow you to realise that not everything is negative. If you are feeling particularly stressed at work, there are a few subtle exercises you can do including deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation and meditation. With the wide range of apps, it is now possible to do guided exercises which allow you to remain calm and positive.
