Stress is an inevitable part of our lives that can affect us negatively in many ways. Many factors can cause stress, such as work, family problems, health disorders, etc.
The life of a corporate employee, for instance, is full of crunching deadlines and heavy workloads, both reasons for workplace stress.
Workplace stress can affect the physical and mental health of employees. It can affect their productivity levels and their ability to focus at work, causing massive losses for organizations.
Here are some ways in which workplace stress affects organizations and their employees alike –
- Poor employee health
- Increased absenteeism
- Lack of work satisfaction and happiness
- Increased healthcare costs
- Poor quality of life
- Decreased productivity and motivation
- Low team morale
If unchecked, workplace stress can cause depression and anxiety among employees as well. Hence, stress at work must be nipped at the bud to prevent it from affecting the lives of employees.
If you are an employee suffering from stress at work, here are 8 ways to overcome it and live a healthier life –
Exercise regularly
Regular physical exercise is a great way to relieve stress. Exercise helps strengthen the body and the mind, increasing the ability to cope with stress.
It also helps prevent health problems that can also be reasons for stress and anxiety.
Make it a point to do some physical activity daily. Go for a walk, do a workout, do workplace yoga or anything that you prefer. Yoga, in particular, is very useful in calming the mind and combatting stress.
Eat Healthily
Nutrition plays a significant role in determining how we function throughout our lives. Good nutritional habits can help prevent stress, whereas poor nutritional habits can increase stress significantly.
While eating healthily at work can be tough, it is imperative to stay healthy. You can prepare healthy snacks and lunches and take them to work to maintain proper nutrition.
Healthy eating will help you stay energized, productive, and stress-free at work.
Meditate
Meditation is practically one of the best ways to combat, reduce, and overcome stress. It helps clear the mind of unwanted thoughts and helps increase awareness, concentration, and focus.
Practice meditation every day at work for at least 5 to 10 minutes. Doing so can help you feel fresh and energized, enabling you to become more productive and complete your tasks with ease.
Take breaks
Working all day without taking any breaks can cause a lot of stress to build up. It can seriously hinder your productivity and focus at work.
Don’t stay put in your chair for long periods focusing only on work. Instead, take short breaks now and then to freshen up and declutter your mind.
Go for a short walk, munch on healthy snacks, or socialize with your team members, which can help reduce workplace stress.
Avoid smoking
Many employees resort to smoking as they believe it relaxes them and soothes their minds. However, this feeling of relaxation is a temporary effect of nicotine and nothing more. Smoking can cause anxiety and stress to increase.
So, to stay healthy and stress-free, avoid smoking as best as you can. Choosing to smoke due to its temporary relaxing effect is not healthy and may cause life-threatening diseases in the long run.
Drink lots of water
Being adequately hydrated is crucial for the proper functioning of our bodies, including our ability to cope with stress.
Water helps remove toxins from our bodies that can cause stress. Hence, we must drink enough water throughout the day.
Ensure to drink at least eight glasses of water every day. Also, keep a water bottle ready beside you at work, so that you stay adequately hydrated at work as well.
Get adequate sleep
Proper sleep is essential for the complete recovery of our bodies and minds. Lack of sleep can result in stress, anxiety, fatigue, and many other health problems. It can also affect concentration, focus, and alertness.
Try to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep every night to prevent stress and function to your best capacity. Avoid using laptops and cellphones before going to bed as the blue lights they emit can prevent sound sleep.
Take dietary supplements
There are many dietary supplements available in the market which can help prevent and eliminate stress. If used in conjunction with proper nutrition, exercise, and sleep, these supplements may prove to be very beneficial.
Supplements such as omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, and melatonin may help to boost immunity, improve the quality of sleep, and reduce stress.
About the Author: This article was written by Shah Alif Ahmed. He is a content marketer and health expert at Vantage Fit, an all-in-one corporate wellness platform by Vantage Circle. He is also an internationally certified nutrition specialist and a competitive bodybuilder, having won numerous national and state-level awards.
