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Stress management at work
01 Oct 2008
The modern workplace can be a pretty stressful environment. You have lists of tasks to complete and deadlines to meet. Perhaps you are responsible for managing a team, or feel under pressure to produce excellent results for your company. Stress is a fact of modern-day life, so what steps can you take to combat it?
Misunderstandings and communication problems remain one of the most common sources of workplace strife. Knowing the right way to communicate with others is essential if you want to remain positive and productive at work. Take a look at the following stress management tips: What is stress?
Stress is the “wear and tear” our bodies experience as we adjust to our continually changing environment; it has physical and emotional effects on us and can create positive or negative feelings.
As a positive influence, stress can help compel us to action; it can result in a new awareness and an exciting new perspective.
As a negative influence, it can result in feelings of distrust, rejection, anger, and depression, which in turn can lead to health problems such as headaches, upset stomach, rashes, insomnia, ulcers, high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.
How can I eliminate stress from my life?
The goal is not to eliminate stress, but to learn how to manage it and how to use it to help us. Insufficient stress acts as a depressant and may leave us feeling bored. On the other hand, excessive stress may leave us feeling “tied up in knots”. What we need to do is find the optimal level of stress, which will individually motivate, but not overwhelm us.
How can I manage stress better?
1.Become aware of your stress triggers and your emotional and physical reactions. Notice when you feel stressed. Don’t ignore it. Don’t gloss over your problems. Determine what events distress you. Determine how your body responds to the stress. 2. Recognise what you can change Can you change your stress triggers by avoiding or eliminating them completely? Can you reduce their intensity? Can you devote the time and energy necessary to making a change? Goal setting, time management techniques, and delayed gratification strategies may be helpful here.
It may be your physical environment: • Pay attention to lighting, air quality, and pleasing colours. • Tackle excess noise – decide how much noise you’re comfortable with and take steps to reduce or eliminate unwanted distractions. • Think about your interaction with your surroundings – the angle of your chair, position of your keyboard, or the type of seat cushion you’re using can all be significant contributors to elevated office stress levels. 3. Allow time for some fresh, unrecirculated air If opening a window is not a possibility, take at least part of your break outdoors. 4. Don’t go hungry Skipping meals only leads to after-work binges and overdoses of fast food when your energy plummets. To deal with a stressful day, you’ve got to have fuel and energy. 5. Cut down on caffeine Not only is it addictive, but this popular stimulant drug can also send your stress levels soaring. 6. Learn some desk exercises. This will relieve stiff muscles and improve circulation.
So, if you’re feeling a little stressed at work, try some stress management techniques now, to help you become the relaxed person you know you are. For more advice on managing stress, Contact Pennie on 01252 792430 or email pennie@acorntooak.org.uk
