How to deal with stress at work?

We all experience stress in the workplace. In today’s world, stress is almost a part of the work life. In some cases, stress can be temporary, while in others it can extend beyond healthy boundaries. It can happen due to a seasonal increase in the workload, changes in personnel, a particularly complex project, etc. In a small dose, stress at work can be tolerable. However, when it’s present for longer periods of time, it can affect your performance and your health. 

Do you know how to deal with stress at work? At Talent2Win we have an extensive experience in talent management and Human Resources, so we are aware of the best actions to fight this problem. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the most effective ways to deal with stress at the workplace. 

How do you handle stress and pressure at work? 

1. Take short breaks 

It’s very likely that the reason behind all the stress is a heavy workload or a complex project. This usually forces people to focus on working and shutting everything else out. However, despite what many think, it’s not a good idea to be focused in work for continuous hours. At the end of the day, you will undermine not only your productivity, but also your health. 

To begin with, the human brain only can be focused for periods that range from 15 to 90 continuous minutes. If you keep working beyond this limit, your productivity will begin to fade. Additionally, working for long periods of time increases your stress levels. You will keep that feeling for the rest of the day. Keep in mind that feeling stress for long periods is one of the main causes behind the burnout syndrome. 

For that reason, you should take a series of shot breaks throughout the work day. For example, each time you complete a full hour of work, you could take a 5-minute break. During that break, you should move from your seat and walk al little. Perhaps you can go for a snack or a coffee. Take your mind away from your job for some minutes. That can help you relax and reduce stress at work. 

2. Complete one task at the time 

You probably have heard some people say that modern professionals should be able to handle many tasks at the same time. That is not true. From a scientific point of view, multitasking is not compatible with human beings. Our brain cannot perform at the same time many activities that require complex brain function. Changing from one task to another constantly not only undermines concentration and performance, but also you end up exhausted and even more stressed. 

If you really want to avoid stress at work, you should create a work plan for each day. In this plan, you can make a list of the tasks you have for that day and start completing them one by one. You can organize them according to their importance.  Crossing out one task at the time gives you a feeling of continuous progress and it keeps your stress levels from rising. 

You might like: How to Deal with a Toxic Boss? 4 Key Aspects 

3. Keep balance between personal life and work 

Professional life demands a lot from people nowadays. Little by little, workloads can build up and take a significant part of our free time. That is one of the main causes of stress at work. In fact, the American Psychological Association recommends having defined limits between personal life and work. 

To achieve that, you have to separate both parts of your life. If you feel your job extends beyond your working hours, you should talk to your boss or supervisor. The idea is to discuss calmly the best way to distribute your tasks and to keep a better balance of your workload. 

Perhaps it’ll be necessary to ask the company to respect your working hours. That is a common problem in the remote work model. Additionally, you should stop answering work-related emails and messages after certain hour. These policies are already implemented in most companies that are aware of the importance of employee wellness. 

On the other hand, it’s necessary to have hobbies after work. Without these, you will keep thinking about your job after the working hours are over. That creates stress. In addition, you need to have an active social life since you can release a lot of stress by being in contact with other people. These actions can help you balance your work and your personal life.  

These are some of the best tips to handle stress at work. Make sure to implement them in your everyday life and you will be able to deal with stress properly.  

At Talent2Win, we strive to align your company’s business objectives with the best Talent Acquisition strategies available. If you want to learn more about the services we offer, do not hesitate to contact us.