‘Workplace Stress’ is more than just the anxiety of a difficult project or a looming deadline. These may certainly trigger stress, but ‘workplace stress’ actually refers to feeling constantly overworked, uncertain and under-supported.

If you’re stressed out, you are bound to be less productive and far from being in your ‘peak state’.  You are more likely to be low on motivation, drive and focus.

Moreover, it can cause various physical symptoms like headaches, stomach problems, high blood pressure and chest pain, and sleep deprivation; not to mention its role in mood disorders, such as anxiety and depression, and lowering life expectancy.

The key to managing stress at work is so to keep it within a healthy level while ensuring that the situation doesn’t become overwhelming. Well, that’s easier said than done, right? But with proper executive leadership coaching, you can achieve your short and long term goals.

So, here are twelve tried and tested tips for overcoming stress at work and delivering results :

Workplace Wellness

Your workplace environment should be such that it supports your sustained wellbeing all throughout the day. You must experience more energy and less anxiety. Some excellent ways to facilitate this are:

• Greener Spaces

It’s a good idea to add indoor plants to your desk or workspace. Including ‘greenery in your scenery’ will not only improve the quality of air in your workspace but also have a soothing effect on your mind, making you feel calmer.

• Stay Hydrated

Maintaining your hydration levels throughout the day helps to keep your brain alert. Besides stimulating creative thinking and problem solving, drinking more water also ensures that your body keeps reminding you to get up and move since you need to use the restroom often! This change in physiology, changes your attitude towards work, making it less stressful.

• Light up

order to support your mood and productivity, you could create a bright and naturally lit-up workspace. A hidden benefit here – it saves energy costs since natural light replaces the need for artificial lighting during daytime!

• Aroma

To uplift your mood and awaken your senses, try using a scented candle or a diffuser with some essential oils. This can work as an excellent mood elevator and enhance your productivity.

Prioritizing Tasks & Goal Setting

The most effective way to handle workplace stress is to schedule your tasks by prioritizing tasks/goals and organizing your calendar. Here’s how to do it:

• Smart Clear Goals

Before organizing and prioritizing, it is important that you set clear objectives. Sit back calmly and list out all your goals for the month/year. Ensure that your daily activities and tasks are well planned and lead you to your goals.

• Prioritize Tasks

Set your priorities with clarity too. Make a to-do list and list out all important tasks to be done. Now, the importance of every task can be evaluated based on your goals.

To evaluate the priority of each task, just ask yourself the following question: Will it take me closer to my goal or further away from it?

If the answer is “closer to”, then it is a high priority task.

• Focus on One Thing

Which means that your focus should be on your most important goal and just two or three tasks each week, which take you towards that goal. This approach will have the biggest impact on your goals.

• Set Deadlines

It’s well known that if one does not have a deadline, the task will get pushed aside and will never see the light of day. Thus, it’s important to set realistic deadlines for everything. Once you have a deadline in place, your task is bound to get accomplished.

• Schedule your Calendar

Plan your calendar so that you maximize your productivity. Plan out your next week on Friday or even Sunday evening. Don’t forget to schedule breaks in there!

Mental Wellness

Managing workplace stress is primarily about your attitude and your mindset. Your ability to cope with everyday ‘stress triggers’ largely depends upon your outlook. Changing your mindset by using the following stress busters can work wonders:

• Stay Positive

The best way to stay positive is to express gratitude. When you start recognizing the people and things in your life that you’re grateful for, can create abundance and positive energy in life.

• Resist Perfectionism.

Instead of fearing mistakes, learn from them. Your stress spike and your self-worth plummet when you run behind perfectionism. Remember that failures are just opportunities for learning and growth; they don’t define a man, they define his future course of action.

• Focus on Effort & Attitude

Most of our fears and anxiety stem from uncertainty; which in turn is caused by things which are beyond our control. If we were to focus only on the things that we can control – like our effort, our attitude, and our behaviour – rather than worrying about the outcomes, most of our stress would disappear!

If you are someone who is trying to restart your venture or your business and are looking for a coach who could help you with making decisions that will help you kickstart your growth, kindly reach out to Coach Amitava, known for his exceptional career in executive business coaching since 3 decades; helping individuals and professionals from various walks of the society.