One of the hardest forms of stress to avoid is workplace stress. After all, you need to go to work and there are plenty of things to worry about once you get there. However, that does not mean that workplace stress is unavoidable. Just like other kinds of stress, there are ways to manage workplace stress and there are ways to avoid it. Maybe you cannot avoid it entirely, but that is no reason not to try.
Workplace stress usually takes the form of everything needing to get done right now. You know the situation, there are a dozen things on your plate and they all need attention, but there are only so many hours in the day and you cannot attend to everything all at once. On top of that, the boss is breathing down your neck, asking you where the report/plan/program is and he also has a pile of other tasks for you once you finish that. It is a never-ending cycle, but it can be managed.
The first thing you need to do to avoid workplace stress is to focus on one task at a time. Do not try to multi-task, as it jars your system. Switching gears between projects does make demands on your brain and it takes a moment to change your thoughts from one place to another. Instead, if you focus on one project, you can keep your thoughts and energy in one place, preventing you from having to shift gears too often.
However, the big problem with trying to keep your focus is your coworkers. They will always be asking you for a quick minute or they will want you to answer their question, or they will want you to come over and help them on something. Try to deflect these as much as possible, as these can distract your focus. Thus, you must learn to say, "no." This is a highly effective word, though you may want to change it to, "No, not right now," or, "As soon as I am done with this." These little phrases can at least buy you some time to finish what you are doing, then switch comfortably to the needs of your coworkers.
There is another cause of workplace stress that can also cause you all manner of difficulty and that is when your concentration runs out. Oftentimes, you may find yourself focusing on the same page or the same computer screen for minutes at a time and you still have no idea what it is supposed to mean. This is not good, as it means that you are not being effective, your brain has shut down and the deadline is looming over you and you just need to get through this. Your best plan at this point is to walk away from your desk. Get up, get a cup of coffee (but not too often, as caffeine can heighten stress), go to the bathroom, anything. Walk the corridors for a minute or two and clear the cobwebs. This is highly effective both for ensuring that you are getting work done and for keeping workplace stress to a minimum.
Another way to prevent workplace stress is to learn some desk exercises. These can be simply squeezing a stress ball, or performing a few stretches while you are at your desk. By working your muscles at your desk, you can improve your circulation and help your keep alert and aware at work. Obviously, you are not going to get a full body workout while you are pecking at a keyboard, but it can help you at least keep your mind focused.
Finally, while you are at work you should examine your environment to see if it is right for you. How is the noise level? Is your desk set up properly? Are you comfortable? Is everything set up so that it is ergonomically correct? Your body needs to be comfortable if you want to work without distraction and distractions can lead to workplace stress. Thus, your work area needs to be set up for you. Take care of the little things around you and you will be able to work confidently and work well.
Workplace stress is, in many ways, part of working. However, by managing workplace stress properly, you can at least keep it to a minimum. And by doing that, work will be much more pleasant and you will be much more productive. So take care of yourself and the area around you and workplace stress will not control your day.
Trevor Dumbleton is the owner of http://www.loweryourstress.com/ a categorized resource directory for everything to do with stress.
tidy up service Glenview ..Too much driving, too much shopping, too much rushing around,... Read More
"Watch your language."We all heard this admonition as kids and... Read More
IntroductionTime magazine called stress the "The Epidemic of the Eighties".... Read More
"Adopting the right attitude can convert a negative stress into... Read More
This summer, get away, without going away. Take a mini... Read More
According to the StressPulse survey by ComPsych Corporation completed at... Read More
Success in recovery, or rather, staying in recovery, is dependent... Read More
No need to go spend money at a spa! There... Read More
Stress is an interpretation of an event or circumstance which... Read More
The Mask of "I've Got It All Together"It's so easy... Read More
Deadlines at work, demanding bosses, bills to be paid at... Read More
Why is it that some people become totally stressed when... Read More
CHICAGO - According to a recent article in the September... Read More
The fast pace of life is taking toll on every... Read More
When was the last time you took a day just... Read More
Stress seems to have become a constant factor in today's... Read More
I was a psychotherapist for... Read More
We all know that stress levels in the workplace are... Read More
"I've got too much to do, I've just got too... Read More
The predominant role human conditioning plays in a stressful environment.... Read More
Governements and businesses have regularly highlighted the costs of stress... Read More
"The great lesson from the true mystics, from the Zen... Read More
It was one of the first words you learned to... Read More
Defending your point of view can use up a lot... Read More
Did you know that taking a short trip, such as... Read More
maid service near Winnetka ..Why is it that some people become totally stressed when... Read More
Statistics show that all of us experience stress at one... Read More
Life would be so wonderful if it weren't for other... Read More
* Play Romane's stress control seminar recordings, and read "The... Read More
Governements and businesses have regularly highlighted the costs of stress... Read More
Stress relief and managementRecognizing stress symptoms can be a positive... Read More
Feeling stressed out lately? Don't worry, there is a simple... Read More
Do you feel tense and anxious at work? Do your... Read More
Fear, and its accompanying seriousness, causes our suffering. Fear restricts... Read More
Understanding StressStress has been called "the invisible disease". It is... Read More
Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour... Read More
According to the Australian Council of Trade Unions' (A.C.T.U.) 1997... Read More
Everyone experiences stress at some point in their life. In... Read More
The right amount of stress can be good for you,... Read More
When something happens in our lives, we automatically assess the... Read More
Many people go through the motions during Christmas. If not... Read More
"Adopting the right attitude can convert a negative stress into... Read More
How much attention is paid to one of the biggest... Read More
What is the greatest fear of man? Is it death?... Read More
Did you ever feel like your "get-up-and-go" got up and... Read More
Perhaps you've heard of the 80/20 rule, but don't know... Read More
Stressed? Relax Right Now with 5 Super-Simple Stress-BustersStressed-out? Don't know... Read More
Many of my readers write to me about the tensions... Read More
10 Ways to Monitor Corporate Stress LevelsGood military leaders work... Read More
In order to understand stress better, it is a good... Read More
Stress Management |