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Stress at work is a major concern in the workplace today. In this article we will reveal six actions you can take to reduce stress in business. 1- Define What Is Stressing You - The first step in the six ways to deal with workplace stress is to identify the source(s) of your stress. Once you know the cause, you can start on the cure. Some things you will not be able to control, like angry customers. But you can control how you handle the related stress. Replace bad habits such as smoking or overeating with good habits such as meditation or exercise. It is also a good idea to approach your boss or upper management about your stress problems. They may be able to help by balancing the workload or increasing time frames of some projects. 2- Create and prioritize your action list - A lot of us get stressed because we have so much to do and keep worrying and keeping one eye on what is NOT getting done. The best thing to do is create a simple Excel spread sheet and write down everything you have to do (it many be less than you thought). Once you’ve created your list, create a priority column and start giving each action a priority. And remember that all cannot be “One”! Then do a data sort on the priority column and you will have your list prioritized. Once you have all your activities on one or two pages, you will be able to deal with it better and reduce your stress. 3-Take Action - If you have too much stress you will get so overwhelmed you will do nothing to improve your situation. Depression sets in and you end up doing the bare minimum to keep your head above water, but are not making any progress. After you create your list be sure to take a red sharpie and mark off each task as you complete it. There is something magical seeing those completed items scratched off your list. This concept is also called G.O.Y.A. (Get Off Your Ass) 4-Take Breaks - Business today is a pressure cooker and it rarely slows down. So it is important for you to takes breaks during the day so you don’t get overwhelmed. I always take a lunch break so I can wind down and recharge myself before I go back to work. When you get tired and frustrated you productivity goes down and stress goes up. So take a break in the morning and one in the afternoon. Even if you just take a walk down the street or have a cup of tea in the break room. Get away from your desk and take a breather! 5- Think Positive - It may be hard to do but thinking positive thoughts will help you reduce your stress. Ever notice those people who are always “up”? Ever notice after talking to them for a few minutes you start feeling positive energy? This is the power of positive thinking. 6- Laugh - One of the best ways to break your stress is to laugh. A recent article on the Mayo Clinic web site revealed that laughing reduces stress. They say, “A good laugh has great short-term effects. When you start to laugh, it doesn't just lighten your load mentally, it actually induces physical changes in your body. Laughing will stimulate organs…enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles, and increases the endorphins that are released by your brain.” So taking a few minutes to watch some funny videos or one of your favorite comedy sketches will help you get thru a tough day. The next time you’re feeling stressed at work, remember this article and see if these five actions won’t help you. Jim Stedt is a partner at The Business SoftSkills Company (GetSoftSkillsNow.Com) located in Santa Ana, California. They provide job readiness and workforce success videos for education, business, prisons and individual use. Training is available online, on DVD, or through an affiliate program. These products are the most complete and concise soft skills training packages now available for the price of an average college textbook.
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