Battling Stress at Work

Stress. It is in everyone's life on a daily basis and can affect you at both work and at home. We spend about a third of our lives at work which doesn't include commuting or overtime. So at one time or another, we are bound to feel a certain amount of stress at work. Stress is the response to both physical and mental demands on the body. It can be a good type of stress, like our flight or fight response. Good stress can help us focus on the task at hand and get it done. Bad stress on the other hand can cause everything from physical ailments such as sleep problems and stomach ulcers to psychological ailments such as depression.

Stress at work can result from a few areas. For example, not being able to finish a task in the allotted time, office politics, office rules, repetitive tasks, lack of recognition by co-workers, work overload, even your physical environment at work can cause a certain amount of stress. Even the best of jobs can have its stressful days. The most stressful careers are jobs like being a nurse or a factory worker where the job is highly repetitive.

However, there are things that you can do that can do to battle the stress that you feel at the workplace:

-Stress can do a lot to hurt both your body and emotional well-being, so it is important to talk about what is happening and how you are feeling with someone you trust. They might not have answers for you, but sometimes just talking about your issues will help.

-Define what success means to you. Does it mean having the corner office no matter what or working in a job that makes you happy? What forces drive you? Once you answer these questions, you can find contentment in your career.

-Make sure you get plenty of sleep, eat well and get plenty of exercise. This will make you the best possible you. It might not be the easiest thing to do when you are under stress, but it is something that you need to do.

-Take a mental break. If you are upset by a boss or colleague, either physically or mentally remove yourself from the situation. Go to the lunch room and grab a drink of water or go online and get a joke of the day.

-Try relaxation exercises such as yoga, deep breathing or meditation. These will definitely help with your peace of mind.

-Set realistic goals and expectations for yourself. Don't forget that you are human. We all tend to be perfectionists, but we need to cut ourselves a break once in awhile.

-Create a positive atmosphere at work. I know of one company that throws stuffed animals at one another when it looks like the person on the receiving end is starting to looked stressed. When we feel appreciated, we tend to feel more motivated. Try to incorporate this

- Limit caffeine and alcohol use.

No work situation is or will ever be perfect because there will always be moments of stress, but if you learn how to deal with stress in the workplace, that will be half of the battle.