It’s no secret that workplace stress is a real problem. With the recent economic changes, political upset, and of course, the pandemic, how could anyone expect any less? Some of the most common workplace stressors include toxic leadership, workplace harassment, strenuous workloads, traffic on the commute, and unclear employer expectations.
When the stress gets to be too much, burnout begins to develop. Some medical studies have shown that there is a strong connection between burnout, stress, and significant health challenges, including heart disease.
From offering a virtual office package to seeking out mental health care, business owners, managers, and employees alike should all be aware of the simple ways in which they can alleviate workplace stress. Here are five tips to get you started:
1. Cut Out The Commute With Remote Offices
Many fields of work do not require in-person attendance. This was never more apparent than over the last few years as most of the world transitioned to remote services. This option offers flexibility, saves time and money on transportation, helps the environment, and goes a long way toward reducing stress and avoiding burnout.
A well-rounded virtual office package will include assistance with administrative and secretarial services, a professional receptionist, virtual to physical fax processing, conference room access, and even assistance with mail and shipping.
2. Don’t Take Work Home
This one is difficult, especially for anyone in a task-driven role. However, it’s one of the most effective tactics for reducing workplace stress. Taking a physical break from the workplace is important, but it’s not going to be as restful as it could be if you don’t also take a mental break from the workplace.
That break never comes if the work follows you home, so use on-site or clocked-in hours wisely to ensure leaving is easier to do when the time comes.
When away from work, ensure that any work-related apps or software have the notifications turned off. Install a weekend out-of-office email autoresponder so that everyone knows when to expect a reply. Or take the more extreme route and uninstall work apps that can be easily reinstalled and logged back into on Monday morning.
3. Intentionally Carve Out Time For Hobbies
No one lives life to have a job. They have a job to live their life. Invest in hobbies and activities that are “the why” behind the work. Whether these activities take place in the evening or on the weekends, even a small amount of time can make a big difference.
Spend time with friends and family doing things that bring joy. Plan blocks of time in advance that are specifically designated for work-free activities.
4. Decompress Before Taking On Home Responsibilities
When trying to be as efficient as possible, it’s tempting to move immediately from one task to the next. However, this can present new challenges. Before diving into other responsibilities at home, take time to decompress from the work day.
Listen to a playlist of favorite songs. Start and finish an episode of that podcast you love. Listen to an audiobook on the drive home. Take a few moments to meditate in the car before going into the house. Phone a friend and chat about anything but work.
5. Take A Walk At Work
Instead of endlessly scrolling social media during your lunch hour, get outside and take a walk. Access to the sun, the grass, and the wind can have a grounding effect on emotions. This is an opportunity to reset your mindset before facing the rest of the day.
Don’t wait until burnout sets in. Instead, start making the above changes to your work routine today.
