One of the biggest obstacles in the modern workplace is stress. Various factors, such as a heavy workload with tight deadlines, long hours, and sudden organisational changes can cause it. This is not to mention domestic stress that can enter the workplace.
It’s normal to experience stress, obviously, but excessive stress can be detrimental to your productivity. More importantly, it can take a huge toll on your health. Indeed, stress significantly impacts workers’ health, and the World Health Organisation has declared it a worldwide epidemic.
The truth is that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to managing workplace stress. Different strokes for different folks, as they say. Nevertheless, you have to start somewhere. Here’s a short list of ideas on how to minimise stress at work and help improve and maintain productivity:
How to minimise stress at work and help improve and maintain productivity
Improve Your Time Management Skills
There are instances when you really can’t avoid time constraints at work. However, if you always wonder where the hours went, perhaps it’s time to evaluate. Sometimes, you’re not short on time, but you just lack the important time management skills to make the most of every hour.
Enrol in time workload management classes to help you work smarter and be more productive. You’ll find that you’re under less pressure with improved time management skills. This is because you’re more confident that you can do what needs to be done on time. In turn, you’ll feel less stressed. Proper time management can also help improve (not just increase) your work output.
Take a Break
You might think working through lunch is a good idea because you’re “saving time.” However, the opposite is true. If you don’t take regular breaks within the day, the quality of your work will suffer. It will also make you feel more stressed. Remember that our bodies need to rest to be fully effective. In truth, studies have shown that those who take “mini-breaks” within the workday are more productive than those who don’t.
A work break can be as simple as standing up and stretching, or perhaps going outside for a ten-minute walk. Some people working from home find that mini naps can be refreshing. If you listen to music while you work, stop working and just appreciate your favourite songs. More importantly, don’t work through lunch. Step away from your desk and enjoy your meal.
Changing the Scene
You see your workplace every day. It’s natural to be bored with the decor or feel uninspired. If this happens, try to work somewhere else. This may not be possible now as so many are working from home. But changing the environment might be the key to restoring your productivity and inspiration. Perhaps working on your balcony or in the garden could offer a change of scene. In times when there are no social distancing restrictions, people often choose to work in coffee shops for a relaxing vibe, but there are plenty of other places to choose from, such as libraries. It all depends on the kind of atmosphere you want.
Organise and Personalise Your Desk
When your desk is organised, you won’t spend precious minutes looking for a stray stapler or an important document. Moreover, working in a neat and clean space can do wonders for your mindset. Indeed, it can help make you feel more refreshed instead of burdened.
Meanwhile, adding some personal touches to your desk can help reduce stress. It could be simple as pictures of your family, children, and pets. You can also place a low-maintenance plant like a cactus for a pop of colour. By personalising your desk, you’ll have something that will remind you of happy, stress-free moments while at work.
Use Free Online Tools
Sometimes, the cause of workplace stress is disorganisation, and it is not just your desk. It may be your planning. For example, your schedule might have overlaps that you haven’t noticed until late. There may also be smaller tasks you’ve forgotten due to bigger projects. Ultimately, you get swamped and feel like you haven’t made any progress on your to-do list.
Thankfully, there are a lot of free apps and online tools to help you manage your workload. Even your email has a lot of functions that can keep track of to-do lists and schedules. Your smartphone also has a lot of native applications, like the reminder function. There are also project and task management tools that you can access for free; some have paid suites that give you even more options.
No matter how hard you work, you won’t do a good job if you’re stressed. Poor performance at work can cause a domino effect that can take a toll on other aspects of your life.
Consider these simple tips if you’re feeling a little pressured and bogged down at work. Hopefully, they can help you minimise workplace stress, improve your productivity, and even make you feel happier at the office or when working from home.