Stress is, unfortunately, common in every workplace, especially during busy seasons. In fact, in today’s society, 70% of Americans feel overloaded with work. When individuals get stressed in the workplace, it not only affects the worker but also the company’s performance. Stressed workers are more susceptible to worsening conditions of physical and mental health, such as anxiety, burnout, and depression. However, you can prevent workplace stress by identifying the source of your stress and properly addressing them.

In honor of Stress Awareness Month, we’ve put together 4 strategies that relieve stress for improved efficiency and productivity in the workplace.

1. Practice Self-Care and Relaxation Techniques

One of the most important steps to relieve stress is to practice self-care when you find yourself getting overwhelmed by work. Being able to slow down and become more conscious of your surroundings is the first step to seeing things in perspective and being able to remain relaxed throughout the week. Self-care is about more than reactionary habits. There are certain routines you should keep in place to keep yourself at an optimal level throughout the week. This includes prioritizing sleep, setting time aside for fun activities, and eating proper meals every day.

On top of that, make sure to add relaxation techniques to your day-to-day life, such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, and taking walks. These activities actually play a large role in calming your anxiety and stress. Practicing meditation helps you re-center your emotions and can be done easily with an audio guide in between your day-to-day tasks. Deep breathing exercises help lower your heartbeat and clear unwanted thoughts. Additionally, if you work remotely, it is a good idea to take walks in between your meetings to get some sun and exercise in. If you can’t find time to incorporate these activities during your workday, set aside some time to do them before or after your workday to relax.

2. Learn How to Prioritize Your Work

For many individuals, the daily workload is a source of stress. It can get stressful figuring out which tasks to do throughout the day, especially if you have a busy workload. However, if you efficiently face your workload by properly prioritizing your work, you’ll be able to reduce your stress, enhance your focus, and improve your productivity levels. Creating a to-do list for your tasks is one of the best allies you can have when prioritizing your workload. It can help you distinguish between your important and urgent tasks and ones you can push off for later. If you have a large task on your list, it is a good idea to break the task down into smaller to-dos and give yourself a timeline for when each needs to be completed. This will not only allow you to better understand the steps you need to take to complete each task but also make the task more approachable. To get into the habit of prioritizing your workload, make sure to plan your weeks and tasks out in advance and on your calendar so that you don’t miss out on any task or deadline.

3. Get Support From an Outsourced Firm

At the end of the day, we all have our limits. If you or your team are finding it difficult to complete certain tasks, there’s nothing wrong with seeking help – especially for those that are time-consuming and laborious. Outsourcing a partner can help clear things off your plate and help you become more productive throughout the day and put more time into generating leads and serving your clients. Outsourcing help is a great opportunity for your business to become more efficient because it connects you with trained and equipped staff. Not only that but the right partner will empower you with the right tools and resources that boost productivity and enable growth. Having a partner on hand will reduce your workload and put you on a better path to success. Look for a partner who can provide extra support for promotions or low staffing conflicts, training and workshops, and access to a dedicated 800 line. With the help of an external agency, you can get your tasks done faster and more efficiently while saving time and money.

4. Revamp Your Work Environment

Did you know that stress can actually be caused by your work environment? You may not know it but your environment actually has an impact on how productive you can be throughout the day. This means that it is important to think about what every facet of your workspace does (or doesn’t do) for you. In fact, even the quality of the coffee or your current desk space affects employee engagement and productivity. You want to work in an environment that promotes success – this means working in a clean productive space with a nice ambiance.

Revamping your work environment can do wonders for your team. An upbeat color scheme, team/family photos, and the addition of plants may not necessarily be large changes, but they go a long way in changing the overall mood of your workspace. If your office has the space, consider adding space for leisure activities that allow your team to rest and relax during the workday. If you work from home, make sure to regularly clean your workspace to set the mood for a productive day. Any sort of change that can enhance enjoyment in the workday can lessen one’s stress and anxieties.

Key Takeaways

If you’re ever feeling stressed about work, don’t worry. It is a normal feeling that everyone goes through. However, the way you approach your stress is what matters the most. If not handled properly, it can lead to serious negative effects on both your personal and professional life. As such, it is important to consider stress management tactics and strategies that can help relieve stress in the workplace. Make sure to always set some time aside for yourself, especially when things start getting busy.

Back Office Advisory Desk understands work-life can get a little overwhelming sometimes. That’s why our partnerships are customized to provide the additional support your company needs when your team is at maximum capacity. Contact us for more information.