Tips to Keep You Stress-Free at the Workplace

May 21, 2010, By Jeff Waddle 1 comment

Stress Kills. There, we said it, and we feel better already. Sure, stress can increase your risk of a heart attack and other potentially fatal health problems, but it also can kill your career, home life and about anything else you care about.

Stress undoubtedly is a bad thing but we’ve all got to deal with it. And it’s especially prevalent at work now as those of us who are fortunate enough to have a job are being asked to do more with fewer resources.

Knowing that work stress isn’t going away, the issue becomes managing it. That may be easier said than done, but there are some things you can do to keep work stress from stressing you out.

Control What You Can

While you can’t control what happens around you on the job, you can control how you react to it. Did the boss or a co-worker snap at you? They’re probably just having a bad day or simply stressed (imagine that), so blow it off, get back to work and don’t let it set off an emotional tirade that will have your stress level boiling over.

Exercising emotional maturity and controlling your reactions are key to keeping stress at bay. If you feel the need to address the comment, do it later when cooler heads are prevailing and calmly discuss the issues that led to the comment and what can be done to resolve them. Talk it out, and don’t let feelings fester.

The work world can sometimes feel like it’s totally out of control but it never is. Here are some other things you can control:

• Your work space: Nothing can make you feel overwhelmed and stressed faster than a hopelessly cluttered desk. Find out what works for you when it comes to getting organized and take time on a regular basis to stay that way.
• Your attitude: Staying angry and negative increases stress, even though it might feel good sometimes to bitch. Try to avoid hanging out with whiners and other “energy vampires” at work. They’re not part of the solution, just part of the problem.
• Your schedule: Sure, there are lots of things you must do to keep your job, but chances are there are some other nonessential activities you can cut out. Be careful about over committing, even if you’re simply trying to be helpful. Don’t let someone reduce their stress by increasing yours.
• Your diet: Are you feeling run down in the afternoon, making it harder to cross stuff off that To Do List? Maybe it’s that burger, fries and sugared soda you had for lunch that’s now making your blood sugar crash. Don’t overeat at lunch and keep some healthy snacks around like nuts or a protein bar that can help keep energy levels high and on an even keel.
• Your breaks: Make most of your work breaks by stretching out, getting a little exercise and taking a mental siesta. Take the steps instead of the elevator when it’s feasible, and try mini-meditation sessions, even if you’ve got only a couple of minutes. Close your eyes, concentrate of taking some deep breaths and shut out the work stuff. It really helps.

Help Yourself at Home

As much as we try, it’s impossible to completely cut the cord between work and home stress. So, cutting stress at home will help you manage it at work.

Develop healthy stress-busting habits at home like regular exercise, plenty of sleep and a healthy diet, and find a hobby or two that gets your mind off work stress. Cultivate a network of family and friends that are upbeat and help you enjoy your time away from work. And, keep in mind that they, along with your health, are more important than anything else. It’s just a job, and you can always get another one.

Jeff Waddle is a featured contributor to ManoftheHouse.com.