7 Tips for Handling Stress at Work or Home

I’ve never met anyone who, on their deathbed, said that they wished they had spent more time at work. Yet work is where we do spend the majority of our time, and work is where we experience a significant amount of our stress.

Plodding our way through the fallout from the most significant recession any of us has ever experienced, has not been easy or straightforward. Layoffs, fear of layoffs, businesses failing, the housing crisis, ever-changing regulations and a multitude of other unknowns have all increased our fears and stress levels.

The verdict is still out on if we are nearing the end of this recession. Most of us, though, in hindsight, would have to admit that we did weather the storm and have survived, despite experiencing significant unknowns and stressors.

Like it or not, work-related stress seems to be a reoccurring theme in these difficult times. To help keep your sanity, we suggest the following:

1. Take Care of Yourself

   Some stress is good. It can energize you and motivate you to achieve goals in areas that are important to you. However, prolonged stress will reduce your coping ability and, over time, lead to burnout out which can impact your health.

   So, here we are, two months into the New Year. Did you keep your resolutions? Are you still:

   • Eating in moderation, and the right kinds of food?
   • Moving – walking, biking, exercising or doing any other form of aerobic activity?
   • Getting enough sleep?
   • Drinking in moderation or not at all?

   If you don’t take good care of yourself physically, it’s easy for the everyday stressors to beat up on you in your less-than-optimal state of well-being.

2. Identify Your Stressors

   Sometimes it’s not the major events in your life that cause your stress, but the accumulated effect of all the little stressors ganging up on you. When you get to feeling stressed, declare a time out. Step back and analyze where the stress is originating. Write down what’s pushing you to the brink… a difficult customer or co-worker, unrealistic deadlines, unclear priorities, or any other situation that raises your stress levels.

   Once identified, tackle the most significant stressor. In many situations, you can’t change the stressor, but you can control how you react to it.

3. Leave Work at Work

   We live in an ever-connected world. It is possible to work all hours of the day, and night. Don’t. Figure out a way to turn off, tune out and leave work at work. This may require better organization, leaving earlier in the morning to get more done earlier in the day, or occasionally, just saying no to a request that’s going to add more to your already overflowing list of responsibilities.

   While we’re on the topic of leaving work at work, don’t email co-workers late at night or early in the morning . . . it’s annoying and adds to their stress levels.

4. Work Smarter, not Longer

   You already know this, but those who leave the office last each day are not necessarily the most productive contributors. Make it a habit to leave on time by working smarter. Is your to-do list up-to-date and prioritized? Have you identified your most productive working hours and blocked them off for focused, uninterrupted work? Can you account for what you accomplished and how much time it took to complete the task? You’ll never truly take control your time until you can identify where it’s all going.

   Remember, each of us are gifted with the exact same amount of time daily . . . 1440 minutes, to be exact. Make sure those minutes don’t get away from you, because you really can’t save time, make time, or find time.

5. End Bad Habits

   Sometimes, we add to our own stress levels.

   • Say no to perfectionism. Sometimes good enough works just fine.
   • Avoid complicated, unhealthy relationships – life is short. When you have a choice, hang out with happy, optimistic people.
   • Put things away in the right place, every time, so that you don’t waste time looking for something lost.
   • Go for what you want, not what you don’t want. Worry less. Focus on the positive in any situation. Don’t lose your positive vision of things turning out really well.
   • Worry more about what you can control and less about what you can’t control. For reinforcement, think about all the things you’ve worried about in the past that never amounted to much of anything.
6. Ask for Help

   We are social beings. We were not intended to fight the battle alone. When you need help, ask for it. Connect with people who are supportive, caring and understand your stressors. Talk over the challenges with them. Most people like to help. A supportive network of caring friends, family members, and co-workers can help you put your stressors into perspective.

7. Laugh More

   Lighten up. Don’t take yourself so seriously. Laugh more. Laugher is great therapy for stress reduction. When things seem to be closing in and stress levels are rising, chose humor.

No one is suggesting that workplace stressors are going away. But, you can take control of how you react to the everyday stressors. Use the tips we’ve shared to put things into perspective and keep your stress levels healthy for your optimal health and performance. Remember, you only get one shot at this thing called life, so make the most of it.

Do you have stressed employees? Our Time Management seminar can help them manage their time better and decrease stress. Contact us today.