Tips to Reduce and Manage Job and Workplace Stress

In this difficult economic climate most of us are finding it harder than ever to cope with the stresses prevalent in the workplace. Regardless of occupation, seniority, or salary level, we’re spending more and more of our work days feeling frazzled and out of control, instead of alert and relaxed.

Some stress is a normal part of working life, but excessive stress can interfere with your productivity and reduce your physical and emotional well-being. Finding ways to manage work-related stress is not about making big changes to all aspects of your work life or rethinking your professional ambitions. Instead, stress management demands focus on the one thing that is always within your control: you.

For employees everywhere, the downtrodden economy may feel like an emotional roller coaster. "Budget cuts" and "redundancies" have become bywords in the workplace, the result being increased fear, a lack of certainty, and higher levels of stress. As job and work-related stress increases in times of economic crisis, it’s important to learn new and better methods of coping with pressure.

The ability to control stress in the workplace can improve your physical and emotional health. It can also make the difference between success or failure on the job. Emotions are contagious; stress has an impact on the quality of your interactions with others. The better you are at controlling your own stress, the more you'll help those around you, and the less other people's stress will bring you down.

Here are some steps you can take to reduce your overall stress levels and the stress you find at work:

• Taking responsibility for improving your physical and emotional well-being.
• Avoiding pitfalls by identifying knee jerk habits and negative attitudes that add to the stress you experience at work.
• Learning better communication skills to ease and improve your relationships with management and coworkers.

Tip 1: Recognize the early warning signs of stress at work

If you feel overwhelmed at work, you lose confidence and may become agitated or antisocial. This can make you less productive and effective, and make the work seem less enjoyable. If you ignore the warning signs of work-related stress, they can lead to bigger problems. Chronic or intense stress can also lead to physical and emotional health problems.

Tip 2: Diminish job stress by taking proper care of yourself 

Stress at work hinders your ability to perform in your job, manage your personal life, or impacts your health. Begin by closely studying your physical and emotional health. When your own needs are taken care of, you’re stronger and more hardened to stress. The happier you feel, the better able you’ll be to manage work stress.

Tip 3: Reduce job stress by being organized

When job and work-related stress threaten to overtake you, there are steps you can take to maintain control over yourself and the situation. Your ability to sustain a sense of self-control in stressful circumstances will often be well-received by coworkers, managers, and subordinates, which can lead to better working relationships