3 Tips to Manage Stress in Your Office

We’ve all been there; the work continues to pile on, and the four walls of your office begin to close in. You’re exhausted all day, restless at night, and you know exactly what to blame; stress. Stress in the workplace is inevitable. However, while it can’t always be eliminated completely, there are numerous ways to actively reduce and manage stress in your office.

Prioritize Your Health
First and foremost: invest in your health. A regular sleep schedule paired with a nutritious diet will put you on the path to a stress free lifestyle. Go to  sleep and wake up at the same time each day, and aim for a solid 8 hours of sleep each night. It is recommended to drink eight 8-oz glasses of water each day. Ample amounts of water, along with a healthy, whole-food based diet, regulate and hydrate your body, giving you energy throughout the day. And don’t forget about regular exercise. 45 minutes to an hour of aerobic physical activity that increases your heart rate will clear your mind and simply make you feel better. Your body will thank you for the time, effort and love you’re putting in, and you will finally be able to handle stressful work situations properly.

Create a Schedule
If you aren’t already planning out your daily tasks, now is the time to start. One of the biggest stressors in the workplace is feeling like there isn’t enough time in the day to complete each project or answer every email (and most of the time, there isn’t). However, by blocking off time each day to fully dedicate yourself to specific tasks, your productivity will increase and you’ll be able to focus on one thing at a time. Side note: it’s important to realize that in business, projects and people that you didn’t expect to deal with that day will pop up. Accept it, address it, and get back to business as usual.

Put Aside Perfection
Brené Brown hit the nail on the head when she said, “Perfectionism is a twenty-ton shield that we lug around thinking it will protect us when, in fact, it’s the thing that’s really preventing us from taking flight.” Proof-reading that proposal for the 20th time or re-editing that article over and over isn’t an efficient use of your time. Perfection simply isn’t achievable in an imperfect world. Instead, take a few extra steps to ensure your project is the very best it can be, and proudly accept it once it’s complete. Invite other people to review your work and offer feedback. Take a break from whatever you’re working on and revisit it with a clear focus. Put yourself in the shoes of your customer and decide if you’ve provided enough information. Resist perfectionism – it’s totally freeing.

Remember – stress doesn’t have to be a bad thing. That voice in the back of your head can be a motivator, constantly pushing you toward your goals, refocusing your mindset, and giving you energy. Recognize which stressors in your life are positive, and let them guide you. If you can flip your negative mindset, you’ll be one step closer to living stress free.