Wellness :: Tips to Manage and Reduce Your Workplace Stress

There are so often not enough hours in the day. You’re spread thin to the point of becoming brittle. Demands on your time and energy include your home, your family and your career. Although all of these stressors may also be your greatest blessing, there’s no denying the toll they take on your energy and state of mind. Like many of us, you may be at a point where you’d so much rather throw up your hands in a gesture of surrender and say, “ENOUGH!”

A stressful workplace can lead to anxiety, sleep disorders, illness and missed days at work; which can lead to common workers compensation injuries such as machinery accidents or even violent acts in the workplace.

You’ll be amazed at how much a stress-free workplace allows you to once again appreciate your blessings – both at work and at home.

Prioritize Your Day

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither will your career be. You need to choose which actions will reap the greatest rewards and put those at the top of your prioritized list. Anything that isn’t considered a must-do should be delegated or put aside for a time – maybe a decade from now – when you have a few minutes free. Simple reminders to keep you on track:

• Not every email is of immediate concern. Set aside a span of time first thing in the morning to attend to correspondence, including emails and voice mails. If necessary, set aside another block of time in the afternoon. Otherwise, it can wait. A reasonable time frame for reply is within 24 hours. Don’t press yourself to do better than that.
• Don’t handle the same correspondence more than once. Immediately decide what to do with it – reply, file or recycle/delete. If you need to follow up, schedule an electronic reminder but don’t leave the paperwork out. An uncluttered work area helps create an uncluttered mind.

Moods Are Contagious

Have you ever started off the day in a great mood, only to have something send you into a spiral of irritation? Perhaps someone cut you off in traffic, perhaps the vending machine was out of your favorite snack or maybe even someone else took his cross mood out on you. Whatever the reason for your bad mood, realize that moods are contagious and take actions to adjust your thoughts to more positive ones.

• Just as negative attitudes are contagious, so are positive moods. Spread your happiness like a blanket. A happy workplace is less stressful for everyone.
• Offer compliments, thanks and appreciation to those your work with and for. Whether you’re the CEO or the mail clerk, be aware of how infectious your smile can be.

Don’t Use a Yardstick for Yourself and a Ruler for Everyone Else

You’ll never measure up. We are so often our own worst critics. Be kind, caring and gentle to yourself. By cutting yourself some slack, you’ll be more productive and creative. Let yourself be creative and appreciate all that you are and do.

• Your value and worth is not just in what you do or accomplish. Spending time brainstorming on an issue may not look like productive time from the outside, but you know better. The best ideas come when you’re relaxed and feeling grateful. Open yourself to the possibilities.
• Focus on what you DID do, rather than what you did not. Trust in your ability to succeed at goals. Take pride in your accomplishments. Acknowledge praise from others, and take it to heart, but don’t let it be a substitute for praising yourself.