8 Tips for Reducing Work-Related Stress

Work-related stress affects everyone, causing health problems that often needn't arise. If you find yourself affected by stress during the nine-'till-five grind, there are a number of simple steps you can take to reduce the chances of getting wound up at work.

While some workplace stress is normal, excessive stress can interfere with your productivity and impact your physical and emotional health. And your ability to deal with it can mean the difference between success and failure. You can’t control everything in your work environment, but that doesn't mean you’re powerless—even when you’re stuck in a difficult situation. Finding ways to manage workplace stress isn't about making huge changes or rethinking career ambitions, but rather about focusing on the one thing that’s always within your control: you.

Get organized:

Draw up a 'to do' list and priorities your workload. Make a start on the important tasks as early as possible so that you can do the best job possible in the allotted timeframe. As tempting as it can be to get 'the easy stuff' out of the way early, leave the low-priority jobs until later otherwise you'll inevitably find yourself running out of time when it comes to the main tasks. Also try to stick to one task at a time - don't get het up trying to do five things at once.

Don't suffer in silence:

If you're getting snowed under with task after never-ending task at work, make sure you talk to somebody sooner rather than later. It's no good suffering in silence as that helps nobody - you get stressed out and the work either doesn't get done in time or it gets rushed and carried out to a poor standard. Tell your line manager or employer if you need extra time to complete a task - or request that somebody else takes on some of the workload.

Learn to say 'no':

If a task you're being asked to undertake is unrealistic, say so. Don't just accept the work in an attempt to appease your boss and worry about the consequences later, as this can lead to extremely stressful situations. This is a particularly big problem for people who are new in their job, who want to either impress their boss or avoid being seen as somebody who isn't trying hard enough.

Take a break:

Even if you have a deadline on the horizon, it's important that you take regular breaks from the task at hand. Sitting in the same place for hours on end working on the same job isn't particularly productive, especially if your stress levels are rising. Take regular walks or drink breaks to refresh yourself.

Look at the big picture:

If you find yourself in a situation that is causing you stress at work, try and take a step back and put it in perspective. Is this a problem that will have genuinely long-lasting effects? Will it really matter in a week or a month? Chances are that the answer is no. If so, tell yourself that it's not really worth getting so upset about.

Relax and breathe deeply:

Whether you are feeling overwhelmed by the amount or work you have to do or if someone is "in your face", a good thing to do is to "breathe through your nose". You can't get as worked up if you force yourself to breathe through your nose. Your body simply can't maintain the same level of energy without that extra oxygen you get when breathing through your mouth.

Lighten up:

Irate patrons?  Marathon meetings? Whether you work on the front lines or behind the scenes, library workdays can weigh down the most upbeat employee. Push through the blues and look for joy and humor around you. Rather than wasting time getting upset over a situation, try laughing at your own reaction. Smile more. We all know laughter reduces stress. You will be amazed at how much more pleasant the people around you are when you make an effort to be pleasant yourself.

Get more sleep:

This is another of the things you can do to reduce your overall stress that will have benefits at the office as well. In addition to reducing your stress, it will increase your energy level and your ability to concentrate.

Whether you're currently suffering from work-related stress or not, it's a good idea to keep yourself covered with affordable health care - you never know if stress-related problems are around the corner.