We all face stress. Books and tips abound on the topic of dealing with stress in our lives but it seems the more we try to eliminate stress from our lives, the more prevalent stress and associated disorders become.
Workplace stress is a staple of modern lives, what with endless meetings, tasks and interruptions that litter our day. The spectre of financial insecurity and fears of the economy going bust also contribute to workplace stress. Stress is by no means going away but there are certain things we can do to reduce stress in the workplace.
Eat well and sleep well. The importance of diet and rest in dealing with workplace stress cannot be overemphasized. Eating badly and gorging on junk foods and sweets will stress your system. A low sugar, high protein diet and getting sufficient rest every night is still one of the keys to productivity in the workplace. If you find yourself unable to sleep at night, try drinking a warm glass of milk, listening to soft music or reading a novel.
Eliminate unnecessary interruptions. Minimize interruptions while on important tasks. Work offline, set your phone on airplane mode so as to cut out incessant pings and notifications from Twitter, Facebook and other social media channels. If working from home, close the door behind you and work with music on. Don’t multitask.
Schedule your day ahead. Plan your tomorrow today. Start with the most important tasks as this will fuel your sense of achievement and help cut out incessant calls from overbearing bosses. Try using productivity apps like Any Do and Evernote to plan your day and schedule your week in advance.
Exercise. Exercise in almost any form can act as a stress reliever. Being active can boost your feel-good endorphins and distract you from daily worries. So get moving, eliminate a sedentary lifestyle. Take brisk walks around the block, jog or jump. Whatever you do, get moving.
About the author: Roman Ajiboye is a freelance writer who loves books, social media and the web. His articles have appeared on thescoopng.com and BlossomNnodim.com. He writes opinion pieces via medium.com/@HammedAjiboye, personal essays on his blog, strictlyroman.wordpress.com and tweets via @HammedAjiboye
