Monday, September 10, 2007

How to Avoid Stress at work

Statistics don't lie. Research suggests that work related stressis a killer. According to the World Health Organization, 80 to90 percent of all illnesses are either directly or indirectly caused by stress.
In another study, researchers found that more than 50 percent ofemployees would be willing to take a day off work without pay inan effort to feel less stress at work and have more time with their families. Further studies have found that the majority ofstress that people experience at work is directly related towork issues such as time management, deadlines, and dealing withdifficult co-workers. Fortunately, there are action steps thatyou can take on a daily basis to eliminate these stresses.
Here are some tips for relieving work related stress.

Watch what You Eat.

Avoid eating unhealthy snacks. Eating healthy food can increaseyour energy. Reduce Your Caffeine Intake. Drinking lots ofcoffee and sodas can increase your stress levels. If you can'tcut out caffeine beverages completely, try to alternate yourcaffeine intake with healthier beverages or snacks.
Exercise Regularly.
Exercise is a great way to relieve stress, so try to take abrisk 10-minute walk during the day, even if it means a walkaround the office or building. Walking will help to get yourblood moving and give you a mental break from your tasks.

Stretch Your Body.
Stretching helps to relieve stiff muscles, which can holdtension and make you feel more stressed.

Plan Ahead.
Getting up 15 minutes earlier, and packing lunches or laying outclothes the night before, can help create a routine and get youorganized.

Breathe Deeply.
When we are stressed, we have a tendency to take shallowbreaths, which can result in feeling more tension. Start byinhaling deeply through the nose for a count of 4, and thenexhaling slowly for a count of 8. This helps to release toxinsthrough your breath. Concentrate on your counting and breath.

Get a Good Nights Sleep.
Be sure you are getting enough sleep at night. Not feelingrested can add to your stress level and make you feel moreoverwhelmed. If you have been experiencing recurring sleeplessnights, consult your physician for guidance.
Do Things You Enjoy.
Try to do something you love every day to give yourselfsomething to look forward to. Most stress arises due to feelingsof life being out of control. By taking time to get yourselforganized, and taking care of yourself, you can begin to gaincontrol and ensure that your workday is as relaxed as possible.

Eliminate Time-Wasters.
Make a list of all the things that currently waste your time andreduce your productivity. These can include things like checkingyour emails, interruptions at your desk, talking too long on thephone, attending meetings, or on a personal level watching TV,getting up late and not prioritizing your day. Then next to eachtime-waster write down what you can do to change that. Then putyour plan into action today!
The end of Work Related Stress
The bottom line in getting rid of stress at work is to do workthat you love. Don't be one of the 80% of people that stay stuckin work they hate. This is the worst thing you could do.
Find out what you're passionate about and then go for it. Ifthat means studying new skills, or finding out more informationabout how to get into your chosen field, then get started now.

To your great life and health!

Mental Health

2 comments:

vaporacle said...

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Robert Nichols said...

Great blog, great information
rob
Xango