Statistics don’t lie. Research suggests that work related stress is a killer. According to the World Health Organization, 80 to 90 percent of all illnesses are either directly or indirectly caused by stress.

In another study, researchers found that more than 50 percent of employees would be willing to take a day off work without pay in an effort to feel less stress at work and have more time with their families. 

Further studies have found that the majority of stress that people experience at work is directly related to work issues such as time management, deadlines, and dealing with difficult co-workers.

Fortunately, there are action steps that you can take on a daily basis to eliminate these stresses.

Here are some proven tips for relieving work related stress. 

Watch what You Eat

Avoid eating unhealthy snacks. Eating healthy food can increase your energy.  Reduce Your Caffeine Intake.  Drinking lots of coffee and sodas can increase your stress levels. If you can’t cut out caffeine beverages completely, try to alternate your caffeine intake with healthier beverages or snacks.

Exercise Regularly

Exercise is a great way to relieve stress, so try to take a brisk 10-minute walk during the day, even if it means a walk around the office or building. Walking will help to get your blood moving and give you a mental break from your tasks. 

Stretch Your Body

Stretching helps to relieve stiff muscles, which can hold tension and make you feel more stressed.

Plan Ahead

Getting up 15 minutes earlier, and packing lunches or laying out clothes the night before, can help create a routine and get you organized. 

Breathe Deeply

When we are stressed, we have a tendency to take shallow breaths, which can result in feeling more tension. Start by inhaling deeply through the nose for a count of 4, and then exhaling slowly for a count of 8. This helps to release toxins through your breath. Concentrate on your counting and breath.

Get a Good Nights Sleep

Be sure you are getting enough sleep at night. Not feeling rested can add to your stress level and make you feel more overwhelmed. If you have been experiencing recurring sleepless nights, consult your physician for guidance.

Do Things You Enjoy

Try to do something you love every day to give yourself something to look forward to. Most stress arises due to feelings of life being out of control. By taking time to get yourself organized, and taking care of yourself, you can begin to gain control and ensure that your workday is as relaxed as possible. 

Eliminate Time-Wasters

Make a list of all the things that currently waste your time and reduce your productivity. These can include things like checking your emails, interruptions at your desk, talking too long on the phone, attending meetings, or on a personal level watching TV, getting up late and not prioritizing your day.

Then next to each time-waster write down what you can do to change that. Then put your plan into action today!

The end of Work Related Stress 

The bottom line in how to avoid stress at work is to do work that you love. Don’t be one of the 80% of people that stay stuck in work they hate. This is the worst thing you could do.

Find out what you’re passionate about and then go for it. If that means studying new skills, or finding out more information about how to get into your chosen field, then get started now.

To your great life and health!

Did you know that one of the biggest stressors in the world that I've come across during 15+ years of coaching individuals, groups and couples is the stress that happens in relationships.

From broken hearts and homes to not wanting to go to work just to avoid facing that person whom you'd rather choke than work things out with learning simple stress management skills is vital if you want to stay happy, healthy and productive.

Healthy relationships begin and end with you setting the ground rules for how others treat you. Here are some handy stress management tips to get you started: 

Set Boundaries.

Many people will walk all over you if you let them. Setting boundaries means deciding what’s ok and what’s not ok when it comes to how people treat you.One of the easiest ways to do this is to practice using the word ‘no’.  All too often we say ‘yes’ when we mean ‘no’. Just by letting others know that you have limitations on what’s ok or not ok will send them a powerful message that you are in control of your life. 

Take Back Your Power.

You are either in control of your life or you’re not, there is no in-between. This means that no-one has the power to make your life a misery unless you allow them to.  Start taking back your power today by affirming to yourself in the mirror each morning upon awakening and each night before retiring to bed, “I love and approve of myself”. Just this action alone will make a huge difference. More on Stress Management Techniques for Healthy Relationships

Work Stress is a nasty piece of work.  I mean you spend about a third of your life there and like most people it’s the most painful part of your day. You get paid for it, right? Of course you do, but is that any constellation? Work Related Stress affects so many people everyday and to make it worse, most businesses still don’t recognise it and don’t have any structured plans on how to avoid stress at work. But is this whole thing being blown out of proportion?  I’ll let you be the judge, but understand Stress at Work is one of the greatest causes of sick days, and costs over $7500 per year in Work Stress Related claims. I don’t know about you, but I think that’s huge!  If you’re a business owner, what do you think?  Is it time to consider what you can do to identify and overcome Work Stress?