How to Be Better at Stress
“Stress is inevitable; getting sick from it is not.”
Many people experience stress in their jobs. It might be temporarily because of a project deadline, or because of seasonal fluctuations in your workload. Or you might experience long-term stress due to the nature of your role, because of a difficult boss or co-worker, or because of office politics.
So, how do you maintain your professionalism, composure, and workplace relationships? The answer is by managing your stress levels, and by learning to survive and thrive in a stressful role.
In this article, we look at the consequences of job stress, and explore strategies that you can use to manage a stressful job successfully.
How to Identify Your Current Stress Levels
Stress can have a negative impact on your health and productivity. There are many warning signs that you're experiencing high levels of workplace stress.
Physical symptoms of stress include frequent headaches or muscle tension, persistent sleeplessness, and stomach upsets. You may also experience significant changes in your weight.
Find Ways to Stay Calm
Stress can often cause you to stop breathing for several seconds, even though you may not realize it. When you're feeling stressed, practice deep breathing exercises . Deep, slow breathing floods your body with oxygen, slowing your heart rate, relaxing your muscles, and helping you to focus.
You might also want to practice yoga or meditation after work; both are effective methods of managing stress.
Frequent daily breaks and regular vacations are also important for reducing work stress. Even a long weekend can help you to de-stress after a tough week. When you do take a break or go on vacation, leave work at work. Taking a "working vacation" (or constantly checking your emails and messages while you're gone) won't give you the time that you need to rest and recharge.
Manage Your Time
If you're struggling with a heavy workload or project deadlines, you can lower your stress levels and improve productivity by managing your time more effectively.
First, take our quiz How Good Is Your Time Management? to assess how well you're currently managing your time, and to get suggestions for improvement.
Distractions in the office can be a major source of stress. These distractions can come from well-meaning colleagues, from constant phone calls or emails, or from general office noise. Minimize distractions by closing your office door for short periods of time, by turning off your phone, or by listening to music or white noise to drown out people's conversations.
Think Positively
Your attitude plays a major role in your level of stress, no matter what kind of work you do.
You can choose to approach tasks, responsibilities and people with a negative attitude, or you can choose to approach your work and relationships with a positive mindset. Although the amount of work is the same, the impact on your health and well-being is profound.
Everyone experiences stress at work from time to time. However, if your job is consistently stressful, it's essential to find ways to manage that stress.
Start by identifying what causes your stress. Next, confirm that you're handling your priorities and time effectively. Get regular exercise, and make sure that you have the tools and resources you need to do your job.
Talk to your manager about developing more autonomy in your role, and assess what it is that gives your work purpose and meaning. This will help you to improve your self-motivation and resilience. We can help you! Email us!