Réka Blazsek http://continua.ltd.uk 2m 615
The views of this article are the perspective of the author and may not be reflective of Confessions of the Professions.
Image by: Victor1558
There is no such thing as a stress-free work environment – unless you’re a Buddhist monk. Those who work in an office on a daily basis will be all-too familiar with the toils and stresses of the nine-to-five grind.
The tsunami of paper work, the unrelenting deadlines, the incessantly broken photocopier, the unending pressures of constant responsibility. It all builds up – sometimes to near-breaking point.
However, here are a few things you can incorporate into your daily activities to make things a little easier on the stress-o-meter (and a little lighter on the blood pressure).
A Little Exercise Never Killed Anyone
I’m sure you’ve heard this before – but I’m also sure that you haven’t taken it seriously enough. Next time you’re at your desk – having been working for hours and you feel like an elephant is sitting on your brain -sneak into a room that’s currently not in use, or go to the restroom, perhaps, and do some yoga. A bit of stretching your neck, pulling your shoulders, and balancing on one foot at a time won’t take you long – but it will certainly refresh you and make you feel better.
Avert Your Eyes
Or, more accurately: look away regularly from the PC monitor – for example, once in every hour for sixty seconds. Close your eyes for 10 seconds, then focus on an object in the distance. Switch your focus on other objects that are gradually closer to you and your desk. Close your eyes again for 10 seconds, and do the reverse. Those red, dry, sore eyes will soon be a thing of the past if you practice this.
Feed Yourself Properly
Not only should you never, ever skip breakfast but you should never, ever skip lunch or decide to eat at your desk whilst working. You’re probably working long hours already, so taking one hour of break in the middle of the day is necessary. It’ll recharge your batteries, you’ll get some fresh air, you’ll be able to socialise a bit, which results in a fresher you and a more productive colleague. A win-win situation for everyone.
Know Your Limits
I understand you want to impress your supervisor and show off to those smug co-workers who think they’re better than you, but none of it is worth stretching yourself too thin. If you volunteer for more work than you can handle, you’ll end up not being able carry out all those tasks properly – in other words, you’ll be exhausted and you might disappoint your boss. On the other hand, if you know your limits and have a good sense of time management, all your work will be finished on time and beautifully.
Who’s The VIP?
As in, what’s the most important project on your to-do list? The art of prioritising is sometimes more significant than being familiar with the add-ins of Excel. I know it from the experience of examination periods at university.
In Treatment
If your troubles are so serious that these tips can’t offer a solution, don’t be afraid to ask for professional help. Seeing a therapist is not a sign of illness, it’s a sign of healing. Keeping your feelings bottled up will only make things worse, and you want to keep your health in ship-shape and Bristol fashion.
Have you got any other suggestions to help relieve office stress? Share in the comments.
Featured images:
- License: Creative Commons image source
Réka Blazsek is an Economics graduate who in her future career wants to avoid being stressed out too much at work. She recommends Continua.
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