Unforeseen events, unexpected events, pressures everywhere, files that are beyond our knowledge, advanced deadlines, etc… This is the daily life of the working world. One day, their accumulation leads to a feeling of imbalance between the employer’s expectations and the resources available to the employee. The person is faced with work-related stress. This situation is never good, because in addition to the feeling of uneasiness, the employee will be less productive.  Here are 12 ways to effectively manage stress at work.

1. Self-assessment to identify the causes of your stress

The best way to manage stress at work is to identify the main causes: lack of recognition, fear of not being up to the job, overly demanding supervisor, monotony of tasks or transfer to another region. Some causes are recurrent and deserve to be addressed.

You can already reduce and get rid of them by attacking the problem directly at its source. Analyze all the factors that may be at the origin of your work stress.

2. Stay positive

Stress is primarily psychological. Adopting a positive attitude will allow you to combat it easily. Always remember that a problem is not a problem without a solution. Try to look on the bright side.

3.Reorganize your schedule

Examine your everyday organization in detail. Plan your day by jotting down the crucial tasks to accomplish this. You’ll have a general idea of what to do to steer clear of nasty surprises from this.

4. Make a good estimate of your deadlines

One of the most stressful situations is when you run out of time. This is undoubtedly the main cause of stress at work. To remedy this, plan ahead and start as early as possible to get a head start and avoid being overloaded.

5. Avoid multi-tasking

Although your body is perfectly designed, leave the multi-tasking to the computers. These days, it’s getting hard to stay focused on one task with emails, phone calls, the internet… Organize your day to do one thing at a time to manage stress at work.

6. Take breaks

Fatigue is a major stressor. Remember that you are not a machine and that taking a break can only do you good. Take a walk, read or talk at your workstation.

7. Don’t overload your head.

Nothing is more stressful than forgetting important things. To avoid this situation, get into the habit of taking notes. Not only will it free up your mind, but it will also make it easier to find information.

8. Avoid procrastination

As much as possible, take your tasks one day at a time and follow your own schedule. Putting off what you need to do is one way to combat work stress. If you are faced with a large task, see if it can be broken down to make it easier to handle.

9. Do other things

Although you are a good worker, never forget that you will always have tasks to do. As soon as you leave your job, forget about it, take your mind off it and move on to something else. Have fun, let off steam, or play sports that will not only distract you, but also keep you in shape.

10. Don’t forget your personal life

To combat work-related stress, find the right balance between your professional and personal life. You have friends, family, neighbors, and other non-work activities that need you. To do this, have a good control of your time by devoting just the essentials to work. Keep the rest to yourself by focusing on your personal activities. You can only benefit from this.

11.Break your projects into steps

Managing what seems like an endless stream of work is exhausting. If you have a large project or several simultaneous projects, set up a step-by-step plan or backlog calendar to help you tackle one task at a time.

12.Meditate

Learning to live in the moment can lead to less stress each day. Meditation can help you cultivate this mindset by letting go of the excess information that accumulates throughout the day and preoccupies your mind. Take a few minutes each day to let go of unwanted thoughts.

Managing stress is a daily task, a continuous learning process. You won’t get there overnight. But, with the right knowledge and preparation you can start to feel the benefits in a few weeks and a real improvement in your quality of life.