Still Slashing Stress From Your Workday

In yesterday’s blog, we took a look at a number of ways in which employees can relieve themselves of stress in the workplace. We would like to revisit this topic today in an effort to reveal some more helpful tips that may improve your work experience. With the help of an Elizabeth Scott article from About.com, here are some more suggestions to help reduce your stress on the job.

“Stay organized,” advises Scott. Some people are simply naturally disorganized. This generally leads to more rushing to avoid being late to work. It also often causes someone to want to rush home after work as well. Avoid the negative effects of clutter, says Scott, and become more efficient with the completion of your work.

She also recommends that you “be comfortable”. Sometimes people don’t even notice that they are stressed out due to the physical positioning that they keep themselves in at work. Are you slouching in your chair? Is your desk too high or too low? Do you find that you have a sore back and neck by the end of the work day?

If you’ve answered “yes” to any of the above questions, it is time to take a serious look at rearranging your workspace to give yourself a frustration-lessening environment. Scott notes that “even small things like office noise can be distracting…Do what you can to ensure that you’re working from a quiet, comfortable and soothing workspace.”

Keeping that in mind, there are other things you can do at work to relax you physically. It is generally unhealthy to sit in place for an entire day of work. Scott suggests that you “walk at lunch”. Getting in some exercise during your day is never a bad idea. It can help you both blow off steam and get you into better shape.

Another way to relieve your stress is to listen to music during your ride to and from work each day. Taking your mind off of work can certainly help with your stress levels. Sing along to your favourite songs and prepare yourself to relax and interact with family, friends and co-workers in a positive, less-agitated manner.

Scott’s following tip may come as a surprise. While most employers value someone who has the ability to multi-task, Scott actually insists that you “forget multi-tasking”. Admitting that it “was once heralded as a fantastic way to maximize one’s time and get more done in a day…There is a certain kind of frazzled feeling that comes from splitting one’s focus that doesn’t work well for most people.”

Finally, “keep perfectionism in check,” advises Scott. There is a difference between being a high achiever and a perfectionist, she reminds us. She writes: “Especially in busy, fast-paced jobs, you may not be able to do everything perfectly. But striving to just do your best and then congratulating yourself on the effort is a good strategy.”