The time spent working should be as enjoyable and pleasant as possible, since it’s a major part of our life. That’s why stress in the workplace is something you need to deal with. Putting up with it or simply ignoring it won’t do you any good.
There are things you can do to manage & reduce stress in the workplace. The list below provides psychology tips to help you handle stress at work and learn how to prevent it from affecting you. Let’s break it down together.
Define the Cause of Stress
Anxiety attacks or stressful episodes happen to us unexpectedly and sometimes we’re not even aware of what caused them. This is especially the case if this happens to us often.
Stress in the workplace can be caused by numerous things:
- unpleasant work environment
- unhealthy atmosphere
- colleagues provoking arguments
- low salaries
- too much workload
The best way to start coping with stress in the workplace is to define what causes stress in your particular case.
Each time you feel stressed out, take a pen and paper, and write down:
- how do you feel
- what made you feel this way
- how long did the feeling of stress last
Try defining the circumstances to identify the cause. By knowing the cause, you’ll be able to remove it completely.
Work on Stress Relief Techniques
When stress hits you, there are several things you can do to try and reduce it. Not every technique works for everyone, so try any of the below listed and find the one which helps you out the most:
- deep breathing
- listening to soothing music
- exercising
- practicing mindfulness
- calling a friend for a talk
Calming your body and mind down is a technique you need to master to reduce workplace stress completely.
Avoid Gossiping
Every office has an active gossip team that spreads rumours and creates mild disagreements between the colleagues.
You can get caught in the middle of a gossip session, without even being aware of what happened to you.
But, you need to remove yourself from this toxic environment since this can be a major cause of stress.
Here’s what to do:
- avoid people who like to plot and gossip
- say you’re sorry but have to have the conversation
- be open about how much it bothers you
Focus on a positive attitude towards all your colleagues and avoid becoming a member of the gossip group.
Stay Organised
Stress in the workplace can be caused by the pressure you suffer to accomplish all of your daily tasks.
If you have too much to do and feel like there’s not enough time, you might start feeling stressed out.
To cope with this type of stress, you need to be able to organise your workday better and be more productive.
You can:
- create personal daily and weekly schedules
- write down all your upcoming tasks
- set specific time frames for each of the tasks
- remove any distractions
Hydrate
Did you know that there’s a direct connection between being dehydrated and feeling stressed out?
A bottle of water should go everywhere with you, and it goes the same for your workplace. When you’re dehydrated, the level of the stress hormone, cortisol, will go up in your body.
You’ll feel:
- tired
- confused
- stressed
- non-functional
Keep your body hydrated energised and you’ll immediately start feeling better.
Make Use of Your Break
Breaks are there for a reason.
Some people spend their breaks sitting at their desks and eating their lunches or smoking in the back of the building.
This will give you no relief and your mind and body will stay tense.
Therefore, you need to make use of your break and do something special every day:
- change locations
- walk
- spend time with a friend or a loved one
- exercise
- read
- listen to music
Half an hour spent not thinking about work and not sitting in the office can make a huge difference. Your stress level will be lowered and you’ll feel refreshed and ready for the rest of the workday.
Final Thoughts
You should never ignore a problem and stress in the workplace is something you need to address. Use the advice listed above to help deal with problems causing you to feel anxious or stressed.
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