For many, feeling stressed at work is a reality every day. While it’s true that some industries are notorious for their high stress levels, there are few people who are able escape all stress at work altogether. Unfortunately, regular stress is often harmful in the long run. It impacts not only mental health, but physical health, too. Therefore, it’s important to find healthy ways to reduce your stress at work. By being proactive in your stress management, you can greatly control the amount of stress created in your daily life, especially in your work environment. Here are some of my best tips for stress reduction in the workplace.

1. Reduce interruptions. Consider how many times you’re interrupted during a typical day at work. Think of how often your phone rings, your email dings, or a co-worker stops by to chat. All of these distractions cause you to lose focus on your work, which can lead to responsibilities piling up and your stress levels increasing. To help reduce distractions, designate specific times of the day for checking email. Close your inbox when you need to concentrate on another task. Close your office door to indicate to co-workers that interruptions aren’t welcome. Allow voicemail to answer your phone when you’re working on an important project.

2. Take mental breaks. Don’t try to work a ten-hour day without allowing yourself a mental breather. While you might think working long hours without a break leads to increased productivity, it actually has the opposite effect. Not only will your productivity decrease, your stress levels will increase if you don’t allow yourself short mental breaks throughout the day. Take a five- or ten-minute breather every couple of hours. Go for a short walk, do some stretching exercises in your office, or take a few minutes of silence to focus on your breathing.

3. Stop being a perfectionist. Sometimes much of our work-related stress is self-imposed, particularly if we have perfectionist tendencies. When working on projects, set time limits for yourself so you can resist the temptation to spend hours trying to perfect every little task. Additionally, attempt to shift your focus from seeking the approval of others to building your own self-confidence.

4. Take care of your health. It might sound like something that should go without saying, but many people who are stressed at work neglect themselves outside of work. Maintaining a healthy diet– think high protein and low fat — and getting enough sleep at night will help your body to feel rejuvenated and improve your overall mood.

Please contact me if you would like help in finding constructive ways to deal with your stress levels and improve the overall quality of your life.