Are you feeling stressed out, overloaded, or feeling like
you just can’t handle one more change? You're not alone.
There are many reasons we feel so stressed. For a lot of
us, our stress levels have skyrocketed. Countless medical reports have
demonstrated the damaging effects of stress. So we need to learn to take care
of ourselves and work to keep these levels manageable.
Change in the workplace is one of the number one stressors. Don't get caught
up in playing the role of a victim just because the rules are changing.
Remember, everyone is affected. Change is about the only thing you can count
on these days. So don’t get too comfortable, things will change again.
You can choose how you decide to respond to stress. Here are five suggestions
that will help you to cope and position yourself as a proactive team player
(that in and of itself can relieve some of your stress):
- Create stress-free zones during your workday. Set aside two,
10-minute blocks of quiet time where you can give yourself a mental health
break. Take time to organize your thoughts and activities for the day. Come
to work ten minutes early if necessary. Give yourself another brief planning
zone after you return from lunch. Take time to regroup.
- Ask the right questions of the right people. Take responsibility for
learning about any changes. Email and memos are not your only source of
information. Stay away from the rumor mill as it often confuses the facts
and increases your stress.
- Clean up your mess! A mess can create stress. Organize your work area.
Don't get in the habit of moving the same piles of papers around. One
philosophy speaks to handling each piece of paper only once. If necessary,
stay late one night and go through every item on your desk. Don't go home
until everything has been tossed, filed, delegated or labeled. Leave your
desk this way when you go home. You will leave with a feeling of
organization and structure (which lends itself to managed stress) and when
you arrive in the morning you won’t immediately feel overwhelmed.
- Be accountable! Are you taking responsibility for work and problems
that are not yours? Ask the following questions when you are being barraged
by requests from co-workers or your boss:
a.
What's the actual deadline?
b.
What needs to get bumped in order to get this done? Ask your boss where
the new project belongs on your list of priorities.
c.
Who else needs to know about this new project?
- Take care of yourself in order to cope with changes in the
workplace!
a.
Drink lots of water and limit caffeine.
b.
Walk outside for at least 10 minutes every day (rain, shine or snow)
c.
Let go of the problems that aren't yours or are out of your control.
d.
Laugh every chance you get. Look for humor everywhere, even in tense
situations.
e.
Focus on the positive aspects of changes and view them as opportunities
for personal and career growth.
