Monday, April 21, 2008

Five Things You Can Do to Beat Stress at Work


Stress is part of our lives, and undeniably, one of the primary sources of stress is work. Our body’s natural response to stress, which is to pump more adrenalin into our system, may give us enough energy to meet deadlines, hit our targets, deal with a demanding boss, and remain on top of our game. However, there’s only so much that adrenalin can do. Constant stress can cause our body to break down, exposing us to greater health hazards like cardiovascular diseases.

How do we continue to be effective employees without risking too much of our health? Follow the tips below to beat stress at work:


1. Participate in Stress Management Activities.
Large American corporations have been using Employee Assistance Programs or EAPs to help its workers cope with stress brought about by personal problems or work-related issues. An EAP is a confidential program that provides activities like counseling, workshops, and legal and financial assistance. If your company doesn’t have one, suggest it to the management.

2. Improve Communication with Management and Colleagues.
Share information with your colleagues. When you feel uncertain about your workload, discuss it over your supervisor. It’s your supervisor’s job to help you. Be sure to make your communication friendly yet professional. Avoid whining and don’t be too crabby.

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3. Help Create a Friendly and Conducive Work Environment.
You may not like how your co-worker dresses or speaks, but instead of making an issue of it, why not let it slide and concentrate on how both of you can accomplish this week’s report? A friendly and positive environment can help everyone in your office work effectively. When you interact more with your colleagues and bosses, they get to know you better and learn to trust you. This makes it easier for you to relay issues with your boss or colleagues. You can also ask for help when your work is getting too tough for you to handle.

4. Foster a Positive Vibe at Work.
Have a positive attitude. Smile more. Share a funny story a joke when things get too serious. We all know laughter can reduce stress. Remember, negativity sucks your energy and motivation in any situation.

5. Set Realistic Expectations.
Make sure that your goals and expectations can be achieved. Don’t kill yourself trying to finish tons of work in just one day. Don’t waste time worry on things that you can’t change or are above your reach. Unrealistic expectations often lead to failure and so much stress.

1 comment:

Work said...

It surely will help a lot of employee. Managing stress in the work area would be a big help to become a much productive and better person.