The number of people suffering from work related stress is increasing by the day. Stress is not only bad for your health, but also hampers your productivity and efficiency in the long run. Therefore, you need to adopt some strategies that will help you to deal with stress at work.
Notice and understand stress signs
The first step in dealing with work-related stress is to understand and acknowledge that you are in fact suffering from stress. Most people ignore these signs and end up feeling frustrated and lose their confidence. Pay close attention to yourself and notice if you feel tired all the time, have problems in sleeping, find it difficult to concentrate, have constant headaches and stomach ailments, losing interest in your work, turning to alcohol more and more to relax, and so on. All these signs are a clear indication that you are indeed stressed at your workplace. Once you have acknowledged these symptoms, try to find out the cause of all this. Have you been working overtime lately? Do you fear getting laid off? Or are you not getting any job satisfaction or motivation? Pinpointing the root cause of your stress is the first step in dealing with it effectively.
Emotional intelligence
Emotional intelligence helps a lot in managing stress levels by enabling you to use your emotions in a constructive and positive manner and communicate with others in such a way that it helps diffuse stress and tension. It also involves paying attention to the nonverbal cues. Many times the way an individual speaks is way more important than what is actually being said. The tone, facial expressions, mannerisms, and body language give away more than you think. Using humor to meet challenges is also a great stress-buster. Try to resolve all workplace conflicts in as healthy and constructive way as possible. If the conflict canât be resolved, end the discussion before it gets uncomfortable.
Prioritize things
Stress is often caused because you get overwhelmed by the sheer volume of work in front of you. However, there is no need to worry yourself; just by organizing your day in a better manner and planning for everything will help you regain control work efficiently. Before you start your day, go through all the things you need to get done and then prioritize them according to importance. Donât forget to include your personal activities in this schedule as it is very important to keep a work-life balance to minimize stress. Donât try to be a superhero; understand your limitations and only commit to work that you are confident about finishing on time. Make it a point to take short breaks throughout the day just to relax. You could take a two minute walk, stretch your arms, or sit and close your eyes for a few minutes. You will feel fresh, energetic and ready for the next task at hand.
Take it easy
Once you have learned to prioritize your daily work schedule, you will find you are able to do many things in a more efficient manner. You will be able to think more clearly and also be ready to accept and break any bad habits that you know hamper your performance at work. Many of us feel the need to be perfect in everything. Donât be such a perfectionist, as there is nothing as a perfect project. It will do nothing but add to your stress. Also, donât set unrealistic goals, because if you are unable to achieve them you will be left feeling depressed. Further, donât keep reflecting on your mistakes. Learn from them and try not to repeat them. Donât try to be in control of everything; there are certain things beyond your control. So, rather than stressing yourself, focus your energies on things that you can control.
Pay attention to yourself
Donât let stress affect your personal life and your health. If you are fit physically and emotionally, you will be in a better position to deal with stress at work. This does not mean you have to change your entire lifestyle; small adjustments in your daily routine can help you beat stress. Find some time to exercise; it could be anything from aerobics, cardio and heavy exercises to even yoga. Pay close attention to your diet and eat healthier food. Eating small meals throughout the day at frequent intervals will help you retain the same level of energy to keep you working all day. Stay away from alcohol as far as possible. Last, but not the least, try to get at least six to eight hours of sleep every night. Only a peaceful sleep can guarantee that you will be fresh in the morning and ready to take on anything at your workplace, without having to worry about stress.
