Managing Stress on the Job

It’s perfectly normal to experience stress during your workday. Many situations can cause stress to rise throughout the day. While there’s no way to eliminate it you can learn how to manage stress on the job. These are some of the best ways to cope with common work-related problems:

An Overwhelming Workload

Talk to your manager about your workload. Let them know that you could use help. Explain the issues that you’re running into and work to develop employee schedules goals and solutions.

Use your time more efficiently. When you try to tackle too many things at once, it can be hard to get anything done. Handle one thing at a time. If you need to stay late to get your work done, see if you can get time off to make up for that later on.

If you accomplish something, treat yourself to some sort of reward. Don’t fixate on the things you still need to do. Take the time to celebrate when you’ve finished a task. You could take a five-minute break and go for a walk, sip a cup of tea, or play a game on your phone.

Make sure the goals you’re setting are attainable. It’s okay if you fall short of those goals sometimes. Try not to be overly self-critical. Everyone has limits. What matters is that you work within those limits and do what you can with the time you have.

Don’t try to do everything at once. Stay focused and complete one task after another. Don’t forget to take the time to breathe!

Poor Work-Life Balance

Make sure you take mini breaks throughout the day. These breaks could be as short as five minutes. You should also make sure you should get up and get away from your desk when you take lunch. If you’re able to, you should step outside and get some fresh air.

Make sure you take time off periodically. If you have vacation days, use them! When you’re feeling overwhelmed, a long weekend can help you to recharge. Giving yourself breaks can boost your productivity.

Work to build a satisfying life away from your job. Build positive relationships with friends and family members. Take the time to exercise skills that you don’t get to use in the workplace. Doing this can help to make your professional and personal life feel more distinct.

Have a routine you stick to at the end of the day. When your workday comes to a close, you could clean your desk or put together a list of the tasks you’ll be completing tomorrow. This can help you to wind down after work, particularly if you work out of your home.

No Workplace Support

Your employer likely has services you can take advantage of. There could be some sort of mentoring system you could utilize. Some companies have Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) that provide services at no charge.

Above all else, you should make sure people know that you need more support. Bring this up the next time you speak with your manager. If you don’t feel comfortable bringing this up to your manager, find someone else to talk to. You could consult a union representative or someone working in human resources.

Make sure you have positive relationships with your co-workers. This can help you to establish a support system at your job. It can also help you get more satisfaction at work.