Tackling stress in the workplace

Whether you’re burning the midnight oil to meet deadlines or dealing with conflicts between colleagues, the workplace can be a stressful place sometimes.

With 40% of workers saying their job is stressful and the average person working 90,000 hours in their lifetime, it’s essential to find ways to reduce stress and stay happy and healthy at work.

Shockingly, almost 20% of workers have left a job due to stress.

Join us as we take a deep dive into workplace stress and offer four top tips to keep you feeling calm and relaxed.

1) Let your feelings out

If you’re feeling the pressure at work, the worst thing you can do is to let things boil up and internalise the problem. Too many people suffer in silence and are afraid to voice their true feelings to co-workers or managers.

Feeling stressed at work is natural.

Things won’t always go to plan and we all have challenging days from time to time. It's important to be honest about how you feel and speak openly about what’s getting you down.

Whether it's venting your aches and pains to your favourite co-worker or reporting an issue to HR, there’s always someone who will listen and offer advice to find solutions.

Importantly, speaking with others will often reveal that you’re not the only one feeling stressed. If you open up to others, they’ll do the same.

2) Take good care of yourself

Did you know that 30% of adults report feeling more relaxed after exercise?

Staying fit is one of the easiest ways to reduce stress. Physical activity can reduce the balance of negative stress hormones (i.e., adrenaline and cortisol) and increase the production of endorphins in the brain, which boosts your mood.

A combination of eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly can relieve stress and promote a more positive outlook on issues.

Some companies provide free lunches to promote healthy eating, while others partner with local gyms to offer employees discounted rates. Either way, the important thing is not to let workplace stress get in the way of staying healthy.

Ironically, 39% of adults who use exercise to relieve stress admit to skipping physical activity at times of high stress.

3) Relax your body & mind

While physical exercise is important, many people prefer a more relaxing and tranquil approach to reducing workplace stress.

Mindfulness activities such as yoga and meditation are a powerful way to tune out from your day-to-day life and enjoy a peaceful escape into another world.

Whether you’re a pro with years of experience or a complete novice, taking the time to find focus on relaxing your body and mind can be a great way to look at your problems with some perspective.

4) Ask for help

Employers are responsible for the wellbeing of their people and it’s in their interest to keep their employees happy and healthy. According to The Telegraph, workplace stress and mental health now accounts for more than 50% of work absences.

Thankfully, workplace stress can often be solved with a simple conversation.

It’s important to ask for help before a problem spirals out of control. Whether it’s reducing your workload or offering better training, a simple conversation is often all it takes to kick-start significant changes and reduce stress levels.

You should never be afraid to voice your concerns to senior managers or ask for help to overcome an issue.

Learn More about Workplace Stress

Want to learn more about how to address stress and improve workplace wellbeing? Check out our whitepaper on workplace stress to discover more top tips.

Or take the first step towards recognising and managing your own stress levels by taking our digital stress test.