No matter what your occupation or salary, many people feel
frazzled and stressed in the workplace. Layoffs and budget cuts in this
uncertain economy can create fear, lowering your productivity. Some
stress is normal, but excessive stress can interfere with your workday
as well as your emotional and physical health. Managing your stress can
be the difference between success and failure on the job as well as
raising your quality of life. Learn how to manage and reduce your stress
in the workplace!
Recognize the Warning Signs
Look for the warning signs of works stress if you start feeling
overwhelmed at work. Feeling anxious, irritable or depressed are common
signs that you are stressed. Other warning signs include loss of
interest in work, problems sleeping, fatigue, trouble concentrating,
muscle tension, headaches, social withdrawal and stomach problems. Using
alcohol or drugs to cope with problems at work is also a warning sign
to watch out for.
Ignoring these warning signs can lead to bigger problems for your
emotional and physical health beyond interfering with your job
performance.
Take Care of Yourself
Pay attention to your physical and emotional health. When you
feel good, you're stronger and more resilient to stress. Making positive
lifestyle choices will help you become more equipped to manage work
stress without being overwhelmed.
First off, get moving! Aerobic activity can help lift your mood,
sharpen your focus, give you energy and relax your mind. Getting in
thirty minutes of activity most days of the week will bring you maximum
stress relief. Raise your heart rate and start sweating!
Your food choices can also be a stress reliever. Eating too much at
one time can make you lethargic, but eating smaller more frequent meals
throughout the day will help you maintain an even blood sugar level. Low
blood sugar levels can cause you to feel anxious and irritable, so
moderate your food to avoid these mood swings.
Stay well-rested! Getting enough sleep keeps you emotionally
balanced. Lack of sleep makes you more vulnerable to more stress and can
also cause insomnia. This is a key factor in stress reduction.
Break Bad Habits
Many of us have bad habits that add to our stress at work.
Turning around your negative thoughts and behavior can help you become
better equipped to handle workplace stress. Nothing is ever perfect, so
set realistic goals for yourself. Trying to attain unrealistic outcomes
will only set you up to fall short.
Turn your negative thinking into positive thinking. Seeing the
downside of situations will only drain you of energy and motivation.
Stay positive and pat yourself on the back for even the smallest
accomplishments.
Clean up your act by organizing your workspace. Sort through your
desk and throw away clutter. Being organized can help save you time and
cut stress. If you're always running late, set your clocks ahead or give
yourself extra time. Being early will help you feel less overwhelmed.
Plan your day according to a schedule and stick to it!
Adapt
If you can't change what is stressing you out, try to change
yourself by adapting to the situation and regain your sense of control.
Changing your attitude and expectations can go a long way. Take time to
pause and regroup, taking another perspective of the situation. How
important is the source of stress in the long run? Is it something worth
getting upset over? If the answer is no, focus your time and energy in
other places. Sometimes, stress is unavoidable, but you can control how
you deal with it. Look at the positive side and move on.
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