There’s a silent killer on the prowl, and you could be a victim and don’t even know it. Workplace stress is estimated to affect approximately four out of ten Americans, and that figure is rising. Should you give up and regard work stress as inevitable? Definitely not! Implement the following stress busters and free yourself from this monster.
9 Ways to Relieve Workplace Stress!
1. Get Organized
Some of the stress people feel at work comes from taking on more assignments than they can handle. Learning to say no when your desk is full can therefore ward off a lot of stress. It takes some practice to get comfortable saying no, but once you reap the benefits then you will be hooked! You can also get more organized by keeping distractions to a minimum. For example, why would you constantly check your email while working on an important project? Get organized and identify a specific time during the day when you can check and respond to emails.
2. Get Enough Sleep
That late-night spent binge-watching movies on Netflix could be the reason why you are stressed at work. Sleep deprivation reduces your ability to cope with stressors and you are more likely to snap or lash out at your workmates. It is therefore advisable that you aim at getting eight hours of sleep each night, and it is better that you go to bed at the same time each night so that your body gets into that rhythm of resting regularly.
Related: https://performancecoachuniversity.com/peak-performance-formula-surprisingly-simple-yet-powerful/
3. Mind Your Nutrition
What you feed on can also have far-reaching consequences on your ability to cope with stress at work. Wholesome food provides the nutrients that your body needs to make the biochemicals which keep you balanced. Eating junk food depletes your energy reserves and leaves you susceptible to stress. On the other hand, whole foods keep you energized and prepare you to take stressors in stride. So, take the hint and improve your diet if you want to beat stress at work.
4. Exercise More
We are assuming that you are already exercising, right? Working out helps to release “feel-good” hormones that leave you feeling refreshed. Additionally, exercising toughens you up physically and increases your ability to cope with stressors without being fazed. You might therefore want to start taking some breaks to exercise while at work and step it up when you go to the gym.
5. Build Positive Relationships
Think about how many of your waking hours are spent at work and then reflect on what type of relationships you have with the people you spend this huge amount of time with. If those relationships are toxic or non-empowering, then you know what is making you feel stressed out.
Get to work and build positive relationships with those around you. For example, start mentoring the people you supervise. As you help them grow professionally, the bonds you create will lift up your spirits and the work environment will be more enjoyable.
Even if you aren’t in a position to mentor anyone, spending less time using your smartphone and more time interacting with workmates can change things around and create positive vibes which reduce the stress you experience.
6. Find Meaning in Your Work
It is very easy to feel stressed by the pressures of work if that work no longer satisfies you and you don’t see the point of it all. This is the reason why you hear many ultra-successful people say that they have never worked a single day in their lives. What they mean is that they are so passionate about what they do that it doesn’t seem like work to them.
You too can tap some of that spark by rediscovering the purpose of what you do. For example, if you are in charge of fundraising for a non-profit and the frequent rejections of the organizations you approach for support stresses you out, think about the end beneficiary of your effort; that smile on a homeless person’s face when he or she gets one hot meal because the funds you raised kept a soup kitchen open. When you find meaning in your work, you will be better equipped to deal with the challenges that have been stressing you lately.
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7. Ditch Multitasking
Don’t believe anyone who tells you that you can get more done by juggling several things at the same time. For example, you aren’t going to do a good job of talking on the phone while doing some calculations on your computer. Dividing your focus between several things is a sure way to stress yourself out, and the sooner you concentrate on one task at a time the better for your mental and physical health.
Related: https://performancecoachuniversity.com/break-up-with-multitasking/
8. Improve Your Physical Comfort
Another factor that easily causes stress to creep up on you is the lack of physical comfort during the hours when you are at work. Those hours you spend slouching at your desk create tension in your neck and back. That uncomfortable chair you sit in strains your body. Over time, this physical discomfort creates low-level stress that grows and eventually triggers the noticeable symptoms of stress, such as difficulty sleeping, irritability and a decreased sex drive. Get rid of this factor by adjusting your work environment so that you are more comfortable physically.
9. Get A Coach
The workplace today has so many stressors, such as pressure to do more with less, demanding clients/customers, long commutes, and so many others. It is very hard for you to come up with a coping strategy for all those issues on your own as a layperson. That is when undergoing coaching comes in handy. Coaching will help you to identify the specific stressors in your life and you will work with a professional to generate solutions to the stress in your life, whether it results from work or home issues.
Stress is real and its effects should not be underrated. It is much better for you to be proactive and take preventive measures to keep stress at bay rather than react after the fact. As already mentioned, you don’t need to handle this problem by yourself. Get the help of experts and bring your life back to normal as soon as possible.
To Your Success,
Jaire Robbins + Team PCU
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