Are you struggling with work-related stress?
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Did you know that a majority of the American workforce suffers from work-related stress? A survey conducted with the participation of 2,000 employees in the US revealed that more than half of them struggle with work-related stress, at least 60% of the workweek.
While work stress may seem like a thing you can ignore at first, it is not a matter that should be taken lightly. Over time, work-related stress and burnout will have significant health consequences on employees. It has been found that some workers begin to get sick more often with work stress. Others suffer from more serious conditions such as heart disease.
Today, we will discuss five steps you can take to cope with your work-related stress.
1. Create a pre-work ritual
Whether you live alone or in a household with four children, creating and sticking to a morning routine will help you start the day fresh. Most employees start their mornings in total disarray. If your definition of a workweek morning is getting up late, cooking your kids’ school lunch, driving them to school, and taking a coffee to go for your breakfast, you will likely be incredibly stressed by the time you arrive at the workplace. Instead, carefully plan out your mornings. Get up a little early to make a healthy meal for yourself and take care of your household duties. Prioritize good nutrition and good time management for your mornings.
2. Identify what needs to be done each day
When you arrive at your workplace in the morning, make a point of determining your tasks for the day. Identify each task that needs to be completed by the day and arrange them by priority. Create a plan or schedule for yourself. Allocate a time slot for each task, and group similar tasks together so you can complete your work faster. Keep time for breaks between tasks as well. When you are clear of your expectations at the start of each day, you can make good time management decisions. This will help you manage your workday and not feel overwhelmed.
3. Avoid and reduce workplace conflicts
One of the major reasons behind work-related stress is workplace conflict. Did you know that interpersonal conflicts are bad for both your mental and emotional health? It is inevitable to avoid conflicts entirely when you work with the same group of people every day within an enclosed office space. However, constantly fueling workplace conflicts between you and other employees will affect you negatively eventually. Avoid forming cliques with a few coworkers and gossiping. If you are aware of coworkers with whom you don’t work well, read this article we have written on dealing with difficult people at work.
4. Stay organized
Lack of organization is a behavior that can trigger work-related stress. You need to develop good organizational skills to prevent getting burnt out at work. You can start your organization journey with your desk. Is it full of clutter and unopened files from a week ago? Remove all clutter from your workspace and arrange your files/documents/other material in organized piles. Keep your office stationery where you can reach them, and use a desktop dustbin to avoid littering your workspace. Staying organized will also help you manage your time better. When you are organized, you spend less time looking for things or wondering where they are.
5. Take a walk
Did you know that a sedentary lifestyle can also lead to an increased ill response to work-related stress? If you have to sit behind a screen for several hours at work, you are likely to become more stressed. One way to combat your sedentary work life is to get some exercise during your lunch break. Take a walk outside with your BLT during lunch and get some fresh air. You can also take short breaks throughout the day. Instead of sitting at your desk during your breaks, take a walk around the office. I have met some professionals who alternate between sitting and standing during their work hours. You can try it too by sitting down for work twenty minutes and switching to standing for the next twenty. It will break the monotony of your work and give you a boost.
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