There is no such thing as a 9 to 5 job anymore. Period! We start checking our e-mails the moment we wake up and sometimes deadlines and presentations keep us awake till the wee hours. Total burnouts, anxiety and even panic attacks have become all too common. It is often stress which leads to all these. Work place stress has become a common thing.
Often stress in one area of life leads to tensions in other areas as well. If we don’t tackle the stress early on it starts to affect our health, our family life and even our social life. The output and competence even goes down, despite of you putting in extra hours in the office. With today’s strenuous work place demands it is very important that you know how to manage workplace stress efficiently. Go through our list of some pro-tips to manage office stress and give a boost to your efficiency.
1. Always Have a To-Do List
Creating and updating your to-do list makes planning your day ahead a lot easier and puts you more in control. Simply create a check list at the end of each working day, so when you reach work in the morning you know exactly what needs to be done on the basis of priority. As you keep on accomplishing the tasks on the list keep on crossing them out. Achieving these little milestones somehow gives you a feeling of accomplishment and you feel good about yourself. You can always keep on updating the list. I sometime even update the list after my lunch hour.
2. Learn to Silence Your Phone
Do you realize what a distraction our smartphones are? When looking for ways on how to get rid of stress putting your phone on mute should be on top of your list. The phone can be a very big distraction when you are trying to concentrate on something important. There could be a ping or a buzz or a ring which makes you pick up your phone and before you know it you have wasted a good fifteen twenty minutes browsing through your Instagram, facebook and emails and what not. Once you realize you have wasted time it just puts extra stress on your mind. I usually put my phone on mute for an hour or two when I am working on something important and it works like a charm.
3. Identify Stress Triggers
What makes you upset? Is it the demands of a particular client, attitude of your line manager or a bossy coworker? Often certain things upset us more than others, and without tackling the real issue we make ourselves busy with other things. This causes unexplained anxiety which leads to stress. Learn to identify what triggers your stress and see what you can do about it. Often the HR department and your bosses can be more helpful in these regards than we generally give them credit for. So if you need help with something or someone do not be hesitant to ask for it.
4. Breathe!
Yes, breathe! Sometimes taking a few deep breaths and letting some oxygen reach your brain recharges your brain. If you spend too much time hunched over your computer screen in your cubicle you must remember that drains out more energy than you realize. It is a good idea to just shut your eyes and take a few deep breaths once in a while. If possible take a small 5 minute walk around the office and stretch your limbs every hour. If your office has an open terrace or a garden it is good to step out and take some fresh air in.
5. Tidy Desk = Tidy Mind
Often we need to take notes or save an important memo, this leads to too much clutter on your desk. When in a rush you need to look for a file or an important document it is impossible to find it in that mess. Also too much clutter on your desk can be distracting and doesn’t even leave a very good impression on your boss. If you want your mind to be clutter free and relaxed keep your workplace or desk as tidy as possible.
6. Do What Feels Good
When you are completely drowned under files or think are going to have a late sitting at work I say give yourself a small ten minute break and do whatever helps to chase your blues away. This could be anything from listening to music to squeezing on a stress ball or even doodling. They say music is the food for the soul; it refreshes you and boosts your intelligence. Once in a while it is good to just put in your headphones and listen to your favorite tunes. Do whatever it is that relaxes you
7. Meditate
If you haven’t tried it, you don’t know what you are missing out on. To meditate you don’t need a yoga mat to lie down. Once you start practicing you know you can just meditate anytime and anywhere. Meditation isn’t deep focusing but rather deep breathing and letting your mind free. You can and should meditate anytime during your work day, just give yourself ten minutes and you will feel your mind is rejuvenated and refreshed. This actually helps you better focus on things.
8. Change Your Environment
Obviously, this is not possible for everyone but if your job gives you the flexibility of working away from your desk for a while this isn’t such a bad idea. Most of the coffee shops now have Wi-Fi access. You might want to pick your laptop and some papers and hit a nearby coffee shop for a while. This works like a charm for those who need to do some creative kind of work. The aroma of coffee awakens your mind and de-stresses.
Buddha said “A cluttered mind is like a wild monkey, which keeps on jumping from one branch to another”. If you are under stress or your mind is cluttered with too many things your efficiency and productivity both go downhill. Therefore, it is always a good idea to de-stress and relax regularly.
[ This article is written by Alvina Adam, Senior Writer for olwomen.com, an avid reader, fashion and make up enthusiast who simply lives to write and talk about all kinds of stuff.]