Anyone who has ever held an office job knows all about work-related stress. Even if you love what you do, every job has its own stressful elements.
Sure, short-term stress is pretty common. Deadlines to fulfill and challenging obligations are pretty commonplace. But if you’re work stress is chronic, it could be overwhelming — and harmful to your health.
Work-related stress doesn’t just disappear when you head home for the day, either. And when stress persists for prolonged periods, it will start to take a toll on your health and well-being.
Stressful work environments can lead to minor inconveniences, like headaches, stomachaches, and difficulty concentrating. However, it can also lead to serious health concerns, like depression, anxiety, insomnia, obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, and even a weakened immune system.
It’s time to start fighting work-related stress.
To avoid feeling frazzled or burnt out, try these tips for managing workplace stress.
Try Telecommuting
Look, the office environment itself can be stressful for some people. Depending on where you work, it might be extremely busy. Do you find many people tend to stop by your desk to distract you from work? Or worse — do they stop by to drop more work on you?
If you are able, telecommute occasionally. It eliminates the hustle and bustle of a traditional office setting, particularly those that utilize cubicles or open floor plans, instead of offices where you can close a door.
It can be a great way to sit down and finish up what you’re working on, without distractions. You may even discover that you’re more productive from your own home.
Stop Multi-Tasking
Seriously.
Sure, it sounds like a great idea to get multiple things done at once, but it never works out that way. Instead, you end up being less efficient, and more stressed out.
Instead, try to focus on putting all your energy into one task at a time. It’s much better and much more efficient to give all your attention to one task at a time, rather than doing a sub-par job on multiple tasks at one time. Plus, it’s a lot less stressful to focus on one thing, than to feel buried under many.
Don’t Forget to Take Breaks
Stepping away from your desk is a great way to relieve stress. Just get up and move around.
Take little stretch breaks every so often. Anything will do — just get up and get your blood flowing. If you tend to get wrapped up in work, you could even set yourself alarms or timers on your phone to remind you.
On top of that, don’t skip lunch. And I don’t mean eating lunch at your desk, either. Stepping away from your desk is a great way to help clear your mind for a bit and help you avoid burnout.
When You Leave the Office
When you leave the office, leave the office. Do not continue answering emails, working on assignments, or returning phone calls after you’ve clocked out.
It’s important to take time to recharge. You need to disconnect from your work responsibilities and practice a little self-care. Decompress on the way home by listening to your favorite music, practice yoga, or even just take time to have a glass of wine in the bath.
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