Does your job stress you out? You’re not alone.
According to a report by the American Psychological Association, 68 percent of women surveyed reported having a significant amount of stress related to work.What’s more alarming is that women also reported experiencing emotional and physical symptoms of stress.
So how can you reduce work-related stress?
You can start by taking a long, hard look at what’s stressing you out. If your stress is stemming from something that there’s no chance of changing — like irate customers yelling at you on the phone or over the counter — you might be better served by finding a different job that doesn’t require you to work so closely with the public.
Similarly, if your work-stress arises because you need a more flexible schedule, you might want to consider a career change. The fact is that some jobs are stricter and more rigid than others. On the other hand, careers like graphic designer and medical assistant are often known for their flexibility. [See Jobs That Let You Flex Your Freedom]
However, if after examining your job’s stressors, you find that there is a silver lining, check out these quick tips for reducing your workplace stress NOW.
Tip #1 – Say goodbye to clutter. If you want to de-stress your work life, start by de-cluttering your work space. Organize your files, trash last year’s notes, and say hello to a neater (and hopefully less stressful!) work zone.
Tip #2 – Take time to breathe. In stressful times, our fight-or-flight reaction goes into overdrive, causing us to take rapid, shallow breaths… which actually adds to stress. One tried-and-true solution is to take a few moments to focus on your breathing. Slowly breathe in through your nose, letting your abdomen expand, then slowly breathe out through your mouth. Do this for a few minutes.
Tip #3 – Start your day with a to-do list. But make sure it’s a reasonable one… Managing expectations of yourself and tackling things you can actually accomplish should help cut down on workplace stress…and amplify workplace pride.
Tip #4 – Leave your work at work. Thinking about work during your off-hours will do nothing to alleviate your stress. So turn off the Blackberry. Don’t check work e-mail. And certainly don’t spend an hour venting to your significant other about how much you hate your boss/co-worker/subordinate. [See Jobs that Allow Work-Life Balance]
Tip #5 – Revive your personal life. Can’t remember the last time you had a girl’s night out or tucked your children into bed? If you’re spending most nights on-the-job, odds are that your personal relationships are suffering. Having non-work plans to look forward to can help to make your unbearable job a little more bearable.
Source: Yahoo Shine
