How To Manage Stress At Work?

As your computer break down again, your boss issued you an ultimatum to either shape up or ship out.

There are stacks of unattended files on your in-tray that looks like a heap of compost, your telephone keeps on ringing and your report is long overdue.

Does this sound familiar to you?

It is correct to say that your job gives you a lot of stress.

In life and at work, there are many things that you cannot control.

Some type of stress is a normal part of your working life and moderate amounts of stress can be encouraging.

The buildup of stress affects your productivity, physical and emotional well being.

Knowing when to manage your own stress can help you to perform better at your job.

Follow these suggestions to reduce stress at your work place:

Look at the overall result
Check with your boss what is his expectation of you.

Make sure you are clear about your job expectation and how can you value add to the overall improvement of your department.

Do not get bogged down by your others responsibilities, prioritize and do one task at a time.

Chat with your colleague while taking your coffee break.

Stretch yourself while using the photocopy machine or go downstairs to buy a sandwich.

Go out for a breath of fresh air to cool down.

It should help you to reduce your stress, irritation and anger.

Smoking or eating to de-stress?
Nicotine in cigarette is a stimulant which increases your anxiety not lowering it.

Caffeine in Coffee can raise your stress hormone or cortisol levels.

Both nicotine and caffeine has a mild addictive effect.

Drink less coffee and do not smoke to relax your mind.

Stress tends to in fluent you to munch on junk foods like potato chips or doughnuts.

Junk foods are high in calories.

Alternatively stock up your workstation drawers with healthy snacks such as:

• Nuts and dried fruits like raisins
• Soy chips or whole wheat crackers
• Fruits and vegetables salads

Stop and imagine happy things
Imagine of an instance in your life when you are happy and relaxed.

Hold that image in your mind for a few second or for a whole minute.

Paste posters, cut out images or postcards of your favorite landscape or motivational quotes on your workstation wall.

Also, place a frame of your family photos on your desk.

Do not over commit yourself
Do not be a hero by over committing yourself into taking more projects with unrealistic deadlines.

You will lose your credibility when you cannot meet the deadline at the same time stressed yourself out unnecessarily.

Do delegate or share responsibilities with your colleagues on some projects.

Have a good rest
Sleep at least seven to eight hours a night so that your body can have a good rest.

Your stress levels will drop after you are well rested and you will be more able to take on your daily job challenges with more energy and composure.

Take care of yourself
Much of your stresses are self-imposed.

You set a high targets for yourself in order to achieve your desired salaries and positions in climbing the corporate ladder.

When you could not reach your targets, you get stressed up and depressed.

Success is in the eye of the beholder and to achieve your ambitions takes time, opportunities and also luck to materialize.

Do not pressurize yourself with your over ambitious towards your career.

Always take the time to reduce stress at your workplace.

Unwind yourself and do not take yourself too seriously. Stop to smell the flower.