A recent report by the CDC’s National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health found that between 29-40% of employed Americans are feeling “extremely stressed at work” in 2019. That’s roughly a third of the American working population that is are the end of their tether with everyday work. Workplace stress is no laughing matter. It’s something that can not only shake your confidence and self-esteem but your general health, too.
Despite the growing demands and rigors of working in the modern world, it’s important to develop coping mechanisms to reduce your stress at work and fight back mood disorders such as depression and anxiety. If you’re looking for some effective strategies, read on and give these workplace stress management techniques a go.
Change your morning diet
There can be plenty of hurdles between getting out of bed in the morning and reaching your desk at work. Whether it’s carrying out the school run, battling commuter traffic or making your train in time, all of these stresses can foster a negative attitude before you’ve even begun your working day.
However, if you eat the right foods for breakfast, you can give your body and brain the fuel it needs to focus on the tasks at hand. A blend of slow-release carbohydrates, protein and fruit is proven to boost your energy naturally. Whole grains, porridge, scrambled egg and even blended breakfast smoothies can be consumed on the go to keep you going for longer.
Avoid conflict with colleagues or line managers
There’s no doubt that interpersonal conflicts and disagreements weigh heavily on your emotional wellbeing. If you have fallouts with colleagues or line managers, unpleasant and downright negative working conditions can be virtually impossible to escape, making every day a grind. The best way to enjoy work is to keep your head down and not go looking for workplace conflict.
Even though you may want to, it’s a good idea not to involve yourself too much in office banter or discussions where you can share personal views on politics or religion. The less you can potentially offend colleagues, the better!
Consider working for yourself to avoid office politics
If you struggle to cope with the day-to-day office politics, there is a way out. Perhaps you have a line manager that you don’t get on with, or your colleagues create a difficult atmosphere in which to do your best work. If you have a skillset that meant other businesses would be very interested in working with you as an individual, you could consider resigning and becoming self-employed.
There is a growing number of professionals going freelance, not just because of the potential to earn more money but to benefit mentally and physically from choosing your own working hours and environment. In 2017, Upwork estimated that the majority of the U.S. workforce would be freelance by 2027. Although there are plenty of stresses and strains when working for yourself, it’s even more satisfying when things click into place. You will, of course, to be pro-active about all aspects of your business. Make sure you cover all bases by taking out small business insurance to cover all kinds of general and professional liability claims resulting from running your business, all of which could create unnecessary stress.
Accept your limitations in busy, fast-paced jobs
If you have always been something of a high achiever and a perfectionist, it can be galling and mentally draining trying to do everything to the letter in hectic job roles. The harsh reality of some fast-paced jobs is that it’s simply not possible to do everything to the letter in your working hours. Accepting your limitations is important in preventing workplace burnout and stress.
You can still strive to do your best, but accept there will be some instances where corner-cutting is necessary to get the job done.
