Work Related Stress Tips

• Why Working Long Hours Increases Stress

  How the British government has decided to tackle work related problems caused by overworking and work-aholic lifestyles. Includes tips on working smarter, rather than harder.

• Stress Management Tip Video

  Being stressed in the office can be one of the most frustrating things in the world. Have a look at this video, giving you a few tips to make those stressful situations a little bit better.

• 20 Tips on How to Reduce Work Stress

  Everyone who sits in a cubicle day in day out would really love to know what’s the best way to reduce work stress? The simple answer is that there is no one specific answer, something that works for one person, may not help reduce the stress levels of another person. In a previous post, I defined what is work stress? And it means different things to each and every one of us. So to cover as many bases as I possibly could, here’s a list of 20 ways to reduce work stress. Hopefully at least one of them will help you out. 1) Wake up smiling If you wake up in a bad mood, chances are that you will stay in a bad mood throughout the rest of the day. So first thing in the morning, try and wake up in a good mood, with a smile on your face and a spring in your step. This is easier said than done, but one way I find helps me is the second your alarm rings, spring yourself out of bed and briskly get yourself washed up. Starting in a positive way such as this encourages your mind to follow along and be positive as well. 2) Improve the way you manage time and organization Get a to-do list that works. If this means writing it down on a post-it, entering the list into your handphone, PDA or Blackberry or even if it means scribbling it down on your arm then do it. Having a to-do list may seem trivial, but it helps you maintain order on all the numerous activities people have to complete in a normal day. Without one, you’ll be doing things as they pop into your head, with many tasks being easily forgotten. 3) Breathe deep to help relax If you start to get worked up, you have to consciously remember to breath a little deeper. The reason behind this is that when your body becomes stressed or when you are busy all day, you may actually start taking shallower breathes. This reduces the amount of oxygen getting to your brain, impairing your thoughts even further. 4) Get a specific job role and description If your boss hasn’t provided you with one yet, ask them to give you a detailed roles and responsibilities document. According to some psychologists, having job responsibilities that you have negotiated with your boss helps remove any sense of powerlessness that employees often feel in their current job roles. Having a role that you expect and your boss expects is the best way to overcome this. 5) Ask for a change in roles If you really can’t stand your job role, or it’s taking too much out of you, ask your supervisors if you can have a change in jobs. They’ll consider it much more than you think because they will understand that if they don’t give you an option, your only option may be to leave the organization. Go talk to your boss, let them know how you feel. 6) Get a new job If points 4) and 5) don’t work out, you always have the option to resign. Of course, don’t do it irresponsibly, meaning if you have a family to care for, make sure you have a job lined up first. But it’s always an option and you have to remember that. 7) Resist the urge to be ‘perfect’ Every project could always be done better. Every presentation could look a little nicer. But you must not nit pick at every little thing on your work. Resisting this urge of perfectionism can help some people dispel stress that wasn’t even there in the first place 8) Be on time If you are always late, why don’t you set your alarm earlier? Or wind your clock to be fast so that you reduce the chance of being late. 9) Clean up your act If your desk, room, office is always in a mess, why don’t you try and clean up? Some people claim that this is their way of organized disorganization, but in reality, when you’re trying to find something important that you urgently need, and have to shuffle and dig through a mountain of junk, you’ll become stressed. Having what you need instantly at hand will make you a much happier and stress free person. 10) Don’t think negatively This may sound so easy to do, but it is possibly the hardest thing on this entire list. They say that it is hard for people to change because it’s hardwired into our brains and our characters will always be as how it always has been. But this is just not true. Through proper training, such as from the ‘Conquering Stress’ e-book, anyone can change themselves into more tranquil beings. 11) Walk away If the situation you are in is building in stress, maybe it would be better to just walk away for a while and let yourself cool down. Just excuse yourself to the toilet, or maybe go make yourself a warm drink and just let your mind and body calm down. 12) Ask for help If you really think you’re being swamped with work but think you can do it all yourself, try asking for help. People are not as bad as you think they are and more often than not, they will help you out. 13) Laugh the stress away It may look really strange at the office, but it you can find someway to make a meeting that is becoming more serious than it needs to be, add some humor into it. It’ll greatly improve the mood of the people and help things run smoother. 14) Take regular breaks Taking five minute breaks every hour or so will help your mind relax a little before going back into high activity. Try and go for a short walk to loosen up the muscles before heading back into your meeting room or back to your desk. 15) Learn to listen Listening to people can really help in resolving conflicts. Rather than getting angry when someone disagrees with you, listen actively to find a win-win solution. But assertive but accepting. 16) Improve your surroundings Clean up your desk, increase the lighting in your office, change the temperature. Do whatever it takes to put you at ease and make your environment feel comfortable to work in. 17) Don’t stress over small things Have you ever found yourself stressing over very small things that shouldn’t really matter? You have to remember that some of these things are just not worth worrying about, while others you just can’t change. Don’t stress yourself out and waste time worrying about these things. 18) Get enough sleep Getting enough sleep is generally good for your overall health, which is directly linked to your levels of stress. Getting sufficient sleep will leave you with higher energy levels at work and throughout the day. 19) Find someone to talk to Is there always someone in the office who seems to be calm almost all the time? Or someone who you trust to listen to your problems? Find someone like this and ask for any tips or advice they could pass on to you. 20) Call a loved one If you remember that you’re working for the sake of your family, work becomes a lot less exhausting, so give your wife or husband a call and talk to them for a short while. You’ll remember why you’re working so hard in the first place and remember that it’s all worth it.

• Clips On Office Stress

  Some videos on what it's like to be stressed with work at the office. If you're reading this and you're actually in the video, read some of the related posts at the bottom of this post... you need it. Stress at Work / Office Stress COMPILATION!!! - Click here for more blooper videos