Chronic stress is associated with several health problems, including high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, depression, anxiety, and obesity. Stress can also lead to poor decision-making, relationship problems, and substance abuse.
Unfortunately, stress is triggered by many things, from traffic jams to family conflicts. Among these, work stress is one of the most common. The good news is that there are several things you can do to reduce work stress. Below are the top tips.
Learn To Say “No”
Do you often say “yes” to every request that comes your way to take on additional projects outside of your normal scope of work?
If so, you should learn to say “no”. This doesn’t mean that you should always decline requests, but rather that you should only take on as much as you can handle. By saying “no” to unrealistic requests you’ll significantly reduce your overall stress levels.
If you find it difficult to say “no,” try using some of the following phrases:
- “I’m sorry, but I can’t.”
- “I’m not sure if I can commit to that. Let me check my schedule and get back to you.”
- “Thank you for thinking of me, but I don’t think I’m the best person for the job.”
Delegate
You shouldn’t do everything by yourself. It’s a major cause of stress, thus, you should delegate whenever you can.
This could involve anything from hiring a virtual assistant to handle some of your administrative tasks to taking advantage of the skills of other team members in group projects.
When delegating tasks, be clear and detailed. For instance, if you need someone to help you with a research project, try saying something like, “I need you to help me with some research. I’m looking for information on XYZ. I need this by Friday at the latest.”
Befriend Your Boss
Regardless of whether you work at a freight unloading company or an art gallery, one of the best ways to reduce work stress is to develop a good relationship with your boss. This doesn’t mean that you need to be best friends, but rather that you should try to build a rapport and establish mutual respect.
How does this help? First, it makes it more likely that your boss will be understanding and accommodating if you ever need to take a leave of absence or work from home. Second, a good relationship with your boss means you won’t feel as though you’re constantly walking on eggshells.
There are a few different ways to build a good relationship with your boss. Try to be friendly and polite, even if you don’t always see eye-to-eye, and go out of your way to do things that will make your boss’s life easier. Then, try to avoid gossiping about your boss with colleagues.
While there are a variety of ways to reduce work stress, these tips are an excellent place to start. By implementing even just one or two of these tips, you can start to see a difference in your stress levels. And, as your stress levels begin to decrease, you’ll likely find that you’re more productive, happier, and healthier.
Originally posted on November 17, 2022 @ 2:47 pm