Are you someone who is constantly feeling overwhelmed by the demands of your job? Do you fall asleep thinking about how to tackle tomorrow’s tasks and wake up dreading the day ahead? If so, you’re not alone. Many of us lead stressful lives as we try to balance work responsibilities with our personal needs and interests. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
There are simple strategies that can help make your workday more manageable and less hectic. In this blog post, we provide tips on how small lifestyle changes can reduce stress levels throughout your workday. Start implementing these three things and see how much they can benefit you.
Utilise technology
When we’re constantly told about the dangers of too much screen time, it may seem counterintuitive to suggest that using technology could actually help to reduce stress levels. However, there are plenty of ways we can use everyday technologies differently to help us optimise our time and reduce workplace stress. In fact, there are often tools that are specifically designed to help us manage our workload.
For example, digital calendars are incredibly useful, especially in today’s age of remote-first working. There can sometimes feel an expectation to always be ‘online’ when you’re working from home, but having this weight on your shoulders can increase stress levels and mean you never truly switch off. Use a digital calendar to mark up your working hours, so colleagues and clients are aware when to expect a response. In addition, understanding how to automate repetitive tasks such as order taking and appointment management can free up more of your time to focus on your most important to-dos.
Optimise your breaks
Breaks are a vital part of anyone’s working day, and have the potential to boost both your mental and physical health. At the very least, taking some time away from your desk will help to relieve stress and allow your mind to refocus once you return. However, there are certain things you can do to get more out of your breaks. Only when our minds and bodies are working well can we be at our most productive, so it’s important to look after both aspects of our health when taking a timeout.
One of the most important things you can do is to get moving. Long periods spent sitting at your desk isn’t good for your muscles and joints, and you might notice aches and pains starting to set in. Even a quick walk or stretch will be beneficial and can help you to reset. When it comes to mental wellbeing, there are plenty of activities you can do to support this crucial aspect of your health. Mindfulness, spending time outdoors and socialising can all help you get into a more positive mindset for the rest of the day, helping to optimise your productivity while also boosting your mood.
Ask for help
There’s a lot of truth in the old adage: ‘A problem shared is a problem halved’. Teamwork and collaboration are key to the success of any business, and knowing when you need some extra support (and not viewing it as a sign of weakness) will go a long way to helping you manage your stress at work.
The most important thing when asking for help is the way in which you communicate your needs. Leaving requests until the last minute will make it more difficult for your team to offer support. In addition, it can be helpful to clearly list out all the tasks you need assistance with, to avoid a lot of back and forth explaining what needs to be done. Finally, understand which colleagues to go to depending on the nature of your work; waiting for a response from someone who can’t help you will only add to your stress levels and delay the completion of the task.