Stress will affect almost everyone at some point in their lives, this blog will share with you our recipe on how to deal with stress in the workplace. However, workplace related stress can interfere with your productivity and impact your physical and emotional health, the ability within yourself to deal with cope and manage it can mean the difference between success and failure.

So what are signs and symptoms of excessive job and workplace stress?

• Apathy – loss of interest in work
• Anxiety, irritation and/or depression
• Fatigue
• Sleeplessness
• Trouble concentrating

Yes, it may be hard to control these signs and symptoms in a workplace however it doesn’t mean that you’re powerless. You may begin to overthink when going through one of these situations and even start doubting your role and position within your organisation, but this does not have to be the case. Finding ways to manage your workplace stress doesn’t have to mean considering changing jobs because it is quite likely for an individual to encounter such obstacles in the workplace.

The first crucial rule to follow is to try your best to deal with one situation at a time. It is also important for you to try to prioritise and be as organised as you can be.

Below are some tips on how can reduce this:

Create a balanced schedule – Every day when you walk through the office make it a priority to write yourself a to-do list as this will enable you to work more efficiently and in an organised manner which should ease your daily workflow.

Don’t over-commit yourself – Don’t sit there and work out an estimate duration for all your tasks, because at some point in the day it is likely you will be interrupted and will have to push back some of your other duties.

Try to leave earlier in the morning – How often do you rush in the morning to get into the office on time or constantly having to rush and not sure where to start in the morning. Arrive 10-15 minutes early to allow you some time to ease into the day, make yourself a drink and plan your day.

Take breaks throughout the day – You don’t want to be sitting at your desk for 8 or more hours in a day. It won’t do you any good, orthopedically speaking, so make sure you plan to have breaks throughout the day to recharge your batteries.

Speak to someone –If something is on your mind or bothering you, speak with someone. Sometimes having a conversation or opening up about an issue can be all you need to get rid of the stress.

Get Some Support – If you are struggling or cannot manage to cope with your workload, simply ask for help or an extension

It is always recommended to visit your GP to discuss work stress further.