7 Ways You Can Deal with Workplace Stress

 

It is no secret that Americans work a lot. By most estimates, the majority of workers in the United States do not take all of the vacation time they are allotted. Moreover, when people do tear themselves away from their workplace, they take work with them. A large majority of workers will check work email and voicemail when they are scheduled to be spending time with friends or family. The main problem with that is that people experience a lot of workplace stress as a consequence. Here are some things you can do when you feel you are experiencing the signs of job burnout.

1. Take a walk. If something happens at work to increase your workplace stress or you feel workplace anger rearing its ugly head, take a walk. Even if nothing has happened that is out of the ordinary for your stressful job, you will do yourself and your mental health a favor by getting up at least a few times during the day to take a walk. If you can get outside for a few minutes, that is even better. This is also good for your physical well-being.
2. Leave work at work. To be happy at work and at home, developing the right work-life balance is essential. It is important to be present wherever you are in your life. If you are at work, focus on your job. If you are at home with your family, focus on them. When you are fully present in your life, you will get more out of all of the places you find yourself.
3. Get more exercise. When you get a decent cardio workout, your body releases endorphins. Those are basically your body’s own “happy pills.” They make you feel good, they activate the reward system of your brain and they make you healthier. Being healthier makes it more possible to deal with workplace stress better. This will make you feel better and make you better equipped to deal with problems at your job.
4. Eat better. Getting a better diet that is rich in the vitamins and minerals you need will make you feel better. Being healthier also helps you deal with workplace stress. Poor eating habits, or skipping meals, can have an impact on your sleep, which will just make you feel more stressed at work.
5. Find someone to talk to. Look for allies you can trust at your job. You need to be careful with whom you select to talk to about your work situation but if you have allies there, they can help because they understand the work culture you are dealing with and the reasons you may be under stress. You also may want to get professional help. Sometimes, talking to someone who is not a part of the situation and who is an expert at listening can make a huge difference in how a person handles workplace stress.
6. Volunteer. Study after study show that people who donate their time to a cause that they believe in are happier than people who do not do this. One way scientists describe this phenomenon is to call it the “helpers’ high.” When people volunteer, they are healthier, happier, and seem to have a better experience at their jobs. People who give their time to a cause or charity they believe in, they also live longer and suffer less depression. This is a good way to deal with workplace stress.
7. Talk to HR. There are times when something is happening at your office that needs your human resources (HR) department to intervene. If your problem is being caused by someone who is harassing you or is acting in an inappropriate manner in your office, you may want to talk to someone in your HR department about the problem. You may find that you are not the first person to make a complaint about someone.

Every day, at least one million people either call in sick or take a “mental health day” to deal with workplace stress. Approximately, two-thirds of all workers across the country sat that their stress level is impacted by their jobs. The good news is that there are things you can do to avoid workplace stress from becoming full-on workplace burnout.