6 Easy Ways to Reduce Stress at the Office

It’s not always fun at work. There are days when you’d much rather stay in bed in order to avoid the long working hours, those annoying colleagues, and the stressful tasks whose deadline you might have missed. But fear not – there are ways to reduce stress and hate your workplace a little less on those dreary Monday mornings.

The most successful people are those who learn to cope with whatever life throws at them with as little stress and as much optimism and creativity as possible. Although some stress is a good this, it’s been known that people who learn to properly organize their daily tasks feel calmer, more productive, and happier in general. We live in an age of abundance of unprecedented technological development, which is supposed to make things easier for us. However, very often the exact opposite seems to be the case. Because all of this pressure creates a sense of urgency in our head, it is increasingly difficult to keep our minds focused and put in the required effort into what we’re currently working on. This way, all we do is unintentionally extend our to-do list, leaving little to no time for ourselves. Today, more than ever, we need guidance on how to manage the constant demands and gain a sense of control in an increasingly overwhelming daily life.

The greater our expectations, the more stress we may experience. It’s a mismatch between the perception of demands on the one hand, and the perception of one’s ability to cope with those demands on the other. The focus, then, is on the perception of actual complexity compared to your perception of the situation you find yourself in. Experiencing stress levels is always very subjective and depends on the individual and their coping with the circumstances. Luckily for all of us, there’s plenty of ways to reduce stress and better our work performance.

Stop Staring at a Screen

This may turn out to be a very hard thing to do, especially if your job requires you to use a computer or your mobile phone. However, according to research, continuous computer use has been linked to stress, poorer sleep, and depression in both men and women. My advice is to at least limit your screen time during the day – when it doesn’t have to do with work, try to avoid damaging your eyes by staring at a computer screen for prolonged periods of time. Instead, exercise your brain cells during that hour – solve a crossword, or take a shot at sudoku!

Listen to Some Tunes

If you’re stuck at work, why not play some music to create a more productive environment? Classical music has a particularly soothing effect on the individual – it has been proven to slow down the heart rate, lower blood pressure, and reduce stress hormones. So why wouldn’t you want a little (not-to-loud-because-others-are-working) party with some of your favorite tunes? Even if it’s just one song, it will very likely put you in a better mood and thus help you to do your work properly.

Regular Workouts to Reduce Stress

One of the better solutions for preventing stress is certainly regular physical activity. People who exercise regularly are more emotionally stable and more resistant to depression and anxiety. Jogging and weight training are usually the most suitable options for most people, but it’s on you to find out which exercises help you feel more energized, but are not too strenuous at the same time. Exercising regularly will gradually help you teach your body how to resist stress, as well as help with your overall health.

Try Breathing Exercises

Those who practice yoga (which you might want to add to your workout routine) would argue that there is such a thing as breathing properly and improperly – and they’d be absolutely right. Breathing plays an important role in staying healthy, meaning it also has a direct influence on your stress levels. When you feel overwhelmed, the first thing you must do is calm yourself down to avoid getting totally stressed out. Best way to do that? You guessed it – breathing exercises!

Take a Short Break from Everything

Sometimes the best thing to do when you want to reduce stress is simply forgetting about your tasks for a brief moment or two. When you feel overworked, stop with what you’re doing and take a short walk – preferably outside, in the fresh air. Walking in the park or anywhere else with lots of greenery will have a relaxing effect on your body. (If that’s not an option for you, simply getting up and stretching your legs will do the trick.)

Ask for Help

Although most of us would never admit it, we all sometimes need a helping hand to get through stressful situations. Asking for help is not only useful because your co-worker may take a task off your hands if you ask nicely, but also because the problems you’re dealing with will no longer be locked up inside your head – you’ll have shared them with somebody, which makes carrying the burden that much easier. If you find you’re facing severe problems concerning stress and anxiety at work, consider seeking professional help.