How To Deal With Stress At Work

There are countless studies outlining the far-reaching consequences of work-related stress upon the individual. Stress at work can manifest itself in anxiety, burn-out, mental health problems as well as a whole host of physical health issues. As well as financial stress, most people will suffer work-related stress at some point in their life. Being able to manage and limit the effects of stress is crucial to recovering from this and not letting it have long-term consequences.

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Reducing the stress that you might experience at work is, of course, the ideal situation, however, finding a low-stress job may be difficult for some people, and therefore you need to focus on developing strategies to deal with any stress you might experience at work.

There are plenty of tactics and techniques that you can employ to reduce or deal with the stress you face, several of which are listed below.

Stay Organized

There are many ways to stay organized at work, some of which are simple time management strategies and methods. One such strategy is the Pomodoro technique which is a time management method that aims to boost productivity through periods of intense focus and regular breaks. Keeping a clean, minimalist work area is crucial to maintaining your focus and not getting distracted. If you are organized and stay on top of your work, you are less likely to feel overwhelmed and out of your depth, even when you go through challenging and potentially stressful moments.

Focus on one thing at a time

Multitasking is a thing of the past; now It makes perfect sense to follow a list of thing you have to do in the order in which they need to be done, rather than attempting to do as many as you can.There is nothing worse than trying to do several things at the same time and failing to do any of them well. If you work in a job that requires precision and careful calculation, it is of particular importance to focus on accuracy rather than splitting your attention between several things at the same time!

Avoid Conflict

This might sound obvious, but quite often conflict can start out as a small issue that grows into a real problem when not dealt with sensibly and promptly. Having to deal with conflict in the workplace can take a huge toll on the individual and make coming into work an unpleasant experience. As you will probably spend a significant percentage of your day with your colleagues, avoiding the person or people you have a conflict with can be complicated, and this can cause a great deal of awkwardness and embarrassment. Do not get involved with office politics and try to avoid controversial topics of conversation, particularly if one of your co-workers has deep feelings about a subject. If you are when you feel conflict cannot be avoided, make sure that you have let a superior know or a designated welfare member.

Be clear on what is expected of you

Not knowing what is required of you can be a stress in itself. Not knowing if you are doing too little or too much can lead to a sense of instability and isolation. Make sure you talk to your manager or supervisor if you are unsure or feel as though you could be better guided and they should be glad to help you out and will appreciate that you are proactive.

Make exercise a part of your daily routine

One of the biggest stress-busters is exercise! Raising your heart rate, sweating, and having some time to yourself while you will have physical as well as mental benefits. The endorphins released when you exercise, trigger positive feelings, a boost in self-esteem and a reduction in anxiety. Even if you feel that you do not have the time or the motivation to exercise outside of your work hours, then make exercise part of your daily commute to work by walking or cycling instead of driving. Despite what you might think, regular exercise gives you more energy, particularly when you exercise in the middle of the day when many people experience a slump in energy and motivation. Check if your company has a gym or offers fitness classes which you could fit into your lunch break.

Make the most of your company's support services

Many companies now offer internal or external benefits and services for employees that need assistance. This might be related to stress, work performance, health, and well-being. Some companies may offer an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), provided by an external organization such as Health Assured, which provides specialized support for an employee's problems. As part of your company’s workforce you are entitled to all the programs and benefits that they have in place, so do not be afraid to ask for assistance or to make use of a particular service.