Let’s face it stress sucks…

We all are faced with it every day. aware of it or not, it surrounds us. Sometimes, stress is a necessary factor in living an engaged life. In our personal lives, society and our friends/families are always quick to offer ways to address and live beyond stress in our lives.

What many of us forget is that stress in the workplace has an effect on the wellness and productivity on us as leaders and employees. But we often feel we have less support and control over dealing with stress in that environment.

In studies, as many as 40% of respondents have described their work environment as “very or extremely stressful.” Several factors contribute to this type of stress. Burnout is common in many professions, especially high-pressure occupations in which employees feel constantly obligated to meet deadlines. When people feel as though they’re merely cogs in a machine, the perceived lack of appreciation tends to increase their anxiety. Managing difficult personalities is also a major issue. Here are a few ways to help you alleviate stress, remain calm and focus on the tasks at hand while caring for your well-being at the same time.

Stay Organized

Psychologists have long recognized the association between a person’s immediate environment and their mental state. A messy, unkempt desk in a work area breeds confusion, disorder and ultimately stress. For better job performance and a clearer mind, make a conscious effort to declutter. This means filing paperwork routinely and minimizing objects or trinkets that simply get in the way without serving a useful purpose. Take a mental inventory of what you actually use regularly, and then give away, throw away or store items that merely contribute to clutter. A lot of methods exist, it is import to try several until you find one that works for you; some like to use the 5S method to help you maintain your workspace. There are five pillars: sort, set in order, shine, standardize and sustain

Focus on Solutions, Not Problems

Falling into a mental rut is easy when you spend your time passively dwelling on problems rather than actively pursuing solutions. Psychologists refer to this as being reactive rather than proactive. When you take the initiative to confront issues directly, you will inevitably feel more in control of the situation instead of being a passive witness subject to the whims of others or mere chance. Practice assertiveness. For example, if your boss asks you to come in come in on Saturday, consider the request carefully. If it seems reasonable and will not unduly burden you, you should probably accept it. However, you do have a right to courteously refuse unreasonable requests rather than grudgingly acceding and privately stewing over the imposition.

Find a Mentor

You aren’t the only one to have gone through adjusting and responding to work stress. Many organizations now have a “Workforce Development” program or branch. The groups often are integrated teams of people who are looking at the environment and what strengths and weaknesses that exist.  Some places are now even offering mentoring opportunities (long and short-term) to build up resilience and success opportunities.

Make Time for Yourself

No one benefits from an overworked employee. The company loses productivity, and the employee suffers burnout. The human attention span is simply not built to work for excessive periods or continuously without breaks. Even if you don’t think you necessarily need it, take advantage of your break time. You will return to your work more refreshed and with a clearer head. 

Protecting your own mental well-being is largely up to you. Do so proactively. You’ll find that if you declutter and organize better, you’ll simultaneously decrease your stress and increase your productivity.

Improving yourself and your overall wellness is important. If this is something you want to work on, look no further!