It has become increasingly common for people to experience stress at their workplace, regardless of the type of job they do. In fact, stress is not even singular anymore.
One person’s stress can easily affect their coworkers as well. So, how does one stop it from blowing out of proportion?
Temporary Relief Methods
Just like power naps are more effective than extended siestas; short office breaks prove effective when you need to keep stress levels down. A simple stretch, a short walk, meditation, and deep breathing exercises can be squeezed in every few hours. Also, never mix work with pleasure, even when you are in the office. Don’t try to fit in extra work and small jobs (like emailing) into your breaks or lunchtime.
Sharing Thoughts
While at work, your friends and coworkers become your support system. They are the ones with whom you may share your feelings or concerns.
However, it is important to identify which friend/coworker will be willing to hear you out. You don’t need people who condemn your thoughts and feelings or those who give out bad vibes.
Assertive Behavior
Regular interaction with your immediate boss/manager is a must. Ask them about your performance and treat their feedback with respect. Their opinions and advice may give you a chance to eliminate the primary stress factors. Ask these questions:
- What will be expected of me in this position?
- Where is the project headed and what kind of progress can my role see in the future?
- How am I faring? Am I doing well or do I need some improvement?
- What can I expect from the upper management, should a problem with my performance ever occur?
- If I have been performing consistently well, what kind of merits/rewards can I expect?
Also, become more assertive at work. This may prove difficult for most of us because we often feel that being assertive may put our jobs at stake. But there are ways to be assertive without seeming rude. A useful piece of advice here would be to try and study reactions as much as you can so that next time you will know what to expect
Manage Your Time Well
We work to provide for our family. So when you leave the office premises, leave your stress behind as well. Try not to think about work when you are at home. Personal time and family time are as important as work.
Also, never bring your work home. But if your job gives you the flexibility of working from home, make use of it every now and then. Arrive at work early and leave on time. Also, try to start your day with some quiet time at home before heading off to tackle the busy day ahead.
Related: How to avoid procrastination?
Pay Attention To The Internal Factors
A lot of times, stress is caused by internal factors rather than external. This is because we fail at being realistic about our capabilities and tend to magnify problems in our heads. Be assertive and practical at your workplace.
If you cannot finish an assignment in the provided time slot, be upfront and let your boss know about it beforehand. Promising to finish it and then not being able to do so will only cause more stress.
