Eliminate Workplace Stress With These 3 Steps

Stress can be a powerful motivator, but too much of it can cause problems. Countless studies have shown that happy employees are more productive, so taking steps to reduce stress is essential for today's professionals. Here are three easy and effective ways to keep workplace pressure at bay.

1. Recognize the Root of the Stress

In order to reduce stress, you need to identify what is causing it. Sometimes, it might be one major thing, such as an approaching deadline. In other cases, workplace pressure may stem from multiple small sources, such as a poor night's sleep and traffic during your commute. When you start to feel those negative emotions, pause, take a deep breath and think about where they're coming from.

You may not be able to eliminate the problems immediately, but simply acknowledging them can actually help to reduce stress and help you move on with your day. Consider keeping a journal of stress inducers. Once you start identifying the causes of your stress, eliminating these causes from your life should come naturally.

2. Take Care of Yourself

Spreading yourself too thin is one of the main causes of work anxiety. Make sure you get a good night's sleep; experts recommend between seven to nine hours for adults. Eat healthy, light foods, and drink plenty of water. Instead of polishing off a pot of coffee each morning, try drinking tea. You'll still get that caffeine boost, but without the jittery, anxious feeling associated with drinking too much coffee. If you feel rushed before work, start setting your alarm a half hour earlier. This might be tough for a few days, but eventually, your body will readjust.

If you feel like you have too much work to do, talk to management. Most experienced leaders are happy to work with employees to maintain a positive long-term environment. After all, one person's office tension can bring down the whole group. Communication can really help to reduce stress. Not only will expressing yourself help you and your team to find solutions, but getting everything off your chest can also work wonders.

3. Schedule Breaks Throughout Your Day

While there may be times when you're not able to abide by your own ideal schedule, consistency can help to reduce stress. Knowing that you have a break coming up can really help you to push through that pressure. On paper, working nonstop seems like the best way to accomplish more. However, the truth is that working in short bursts and then taking time to recover can really help you to get more done in the long run. A fresh mind is capable of producing higher-quality work.

There is no guaranteed formula to reduce stress, but simply taking that first step and acknowledging it goes a long way. Reducing or eliminating stress may take some time, but don't give up. Sometimes simply smiling -- even when you don't feel like it -- is all it takes to reduce stress and make those negative feelings fade away.

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