Five ways to beat work stress
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Ready to lose the plot at work? Keep your cool with these simple ideas for banishing stress from your desk.
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- Five ways to beat work stress
1. Get organised
Feeling completely overloaded? Start your working day by making a list of tasks you need to complete and assign each a priority. This will help to keep you on track and work out where to begin when the tidal wave of work seems insurmountable.
2. Know your energy window
Each of us works better at different times of the day. For those more alert in the mornings, plan to work through tasks needing high energy and concentration before lunch, then opt for administrative tasks for the afternoon. Obviously, this works in reverse for those who peak in the second half of the day.
3. Take care of yourself
Eat a healthy diet and make time for exercise. Exercise boosts your overall energy levels, so you're less likely to suffer from the dreaded mid-afternoon slump. Low-GI foods, such as soy beans, nuts, fish and vegetables, also help ensure you don't weather the energy – highs and lows which can be exacerbated by heavy caffeine intake.
4. Take it up the chain
Is your work stress management-related? Talk about it. Rather than bottling up issues linked with those above you in the workplace food-chain, find a quiet and appropriate moment and discuss your concerns with a supervisor or manager. Take a solutions-orientated approach and avoid personal attacks. Open communication makes for a calmer, often happier, work environment.
5. Make time for you
Hard to fathom when you're stressed off your head, but schedule time for whatever pulls you out of the daily grind – be it yoga, soccer, a trip to the movies, a cooking classes or a boxing lesson (for those with extra lashings of stress!). Navigating the ups and downs of work is made all the easier when your week involves a relaxation activity (or two, or three).
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