Reducing stress in the workplace.

When you think of going to work do you start feeling anxious, irritable or depressed? Have you had a loss of interest in your work lately and have constant headaches. You may be experiencing work related stress.

The most common causes for excessive stress at work may be:

· Fear of layoffs.
· Increased work demands or overtime due to staff cutbacks.
· Pressure to meet rising expectations.
· Pressure to perform your best all the time under unfavourable circumstances.

We all need pressure to motivate us and keep us performing at our best. Some stress is good but when we start to feel overwhelmed, we lose confidence and if affects our work. When we start to feel too much pressure we start to experience stress.

Here are just a few tips to help you cope with the stress:

Take care of yourself – If you pay attention to your physical and emotional health, you’re stronger and more resilient to stress. The better you feel, the better you’ll be able to manage the stress without becoming overwhelmed. Aerobic exercise aides in sharpening your focus and relaxing your mind and body. Eat healthy. Make food choices that keep you going and make you feel good. Don’t forget to get enough sleep. Stress and worry can cause insomnia but lack of sleep leaves you vulnerable and stressed.

Prioritize and organize - Stop setting unrealistic goals for yourself. Learn to say “No” when you need to and learn to ask for help when you need it. This is not a sign of weakness. You don’t have to do it all yourself. Make a list of tasks and tackle them in order of importance. Create a balanced schedule. Avoid fitting too much into one day. Take regular breaks. Stepping away from your desk, even for just a moment to clear your head can help recharge.

Smile – Laughter reduces stress. Your emotions are contagious, and stress has an impact on the quality of your interactions with others. When you make the effort to be more pleasant, the people around you become more pleasant and the less other people’s stress will negatively affect you. You should also realize that there are some things that are just not worth stressing about such as things that are already done and can’t be changed.

In this difficult economy, it’s harder than ever to cope with challenges in the workplace but just following a couple simple tips will help in making it easier.

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