We’ve all been there. It’s 5 p.m. on a Friday night, and you’re busting your hump to meet a deadline – or coordinating with a client to make sure that they meet the deadline – and you feel like the world is crashing down around you and nothing is going right. My advice? Breathe.
In cases like these, we often end up creating more stress for ourselves than the situation calls for. Now, if you’re performing open-heart surgery, a little stress is probably to be expected. But for most office environments, why fuss? The important thing to remember about work is exactly that – it’s just work. While your career is a top priority, don’t let it get you rattled.
In honor of April being National Stress Awareness Month, and in the spirit of not becoming bogged down with the weight of everyday work life, we thought this would be the perfect opportunity to share our top five tips for overcoming stress in the workplace.
Take a Walk
Not only has exercise been proven to increase productivity, a mind-clearing walk in the middle of the day is just what the doctor ordered in terms of stress relief. Taking time out of your day to step outside and get some fresh air, especially as winter begins to thaw, can reenergize your body and mind and help you get through the rest of the workday. If the weather doesn’t permit a quick stroll outside, take a moment to stretch or see how long you can hold a wall-sit to get the blood flowing!
Stay Organized
Professional life is already inherently stressful – it seems to be a byproduct of today’s corporate culture. But keeping yourself organized can help alleviate a lot of the extra headache. Whether that means keeping a minute-by-minute agenda or even just writing yourself a quick note, staying focused on completing the task at hand can make a huge difference.
Company Field Trips
Not only are they good for improving morale, working off-site excursions and late afternoon happy hours in your corporate culture can dramatically improve the mood of the entire staff. And when the mood is positive, stress seems to naturally dissolve. These types of outings are also good for team building and provide great opportunities for colleagues to get to know one another outside of the office.
Procrastination Isn’t Always a Bad Thing
It doesn’t always hurt to stray from your work for a few minutes. Taking time to move away from the task at-hand to focus instead on something you enjoy – whether that’s catching up with Facebook, reading something for leisure, or just running out to grab lunch – can serve as the perfect distraction for certain stress-inducing tasks. Even a quick break can make your workload seem a little less trying when it’s time to get back to it.
Work-Life Balance
It’s often difficult, especially in the fast-paced world of tech PR, to find a happy medium between work and personal life. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could flip a switch – on while we’re at the office, off when we’re at home – and completely check out at 5 p.m.? Unfortunately, that’s not always easy, and sometimes it’s not quite possible.
What is possible though, is focusing on what’s happening in the moment and being present. When you are in the office, focus on work. But when you’re spending time with friends, family, or your significant other, give them your undivided attention. Being present in your life outside of work can make the stress of your workday significantly less impactful and your overall work experience far more enjoyable.