Whether you work on a part-time or full-time basis, whether you work from your home office or in a busy hospital or retail environment, it is absolutely crucial that you know how to effectively manage and reduce stress. Stress can be a significant problem on its own, but it can also lead to other mental and even physical health issues if it is left unchecked. In this article, Nu Vending is going to look at ways you can manage your stress at work.
Morning routine
Sometimes mornings are leisurely, and sometimes they can be hectic – if you have children, you might often find yourself rushing around getting them ready for school, leaving no time for you to mentally prepare for the day. Taking just 10 minutes to have a nutritious breakfast, a coffee or even just a brief moment of relaxation can set you up for the day perfectly. If you arrive at work stressed, then it’s very unlikely your stress levels will decrease as the day goes on. There can be immense value in getting everyone up 10 or 15 minutes early to avoid running around and rushing out of the door.
Regular breaks
Even on the busiest of days, it’s important to take regular breaks to give yourself a rest. Even something as simple as going to make a coffee can be very helpful – the small break from your workstation gives you a chance to socialise (if you’re not working from home), a change of scenery and just a brief moment of respite from work itself. If you’re working from home, taking five minutes to go outside can help to boost morale and give you a little more energy for the day.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is the practice of focusing on the present moment – removing all distractions and worries from your mind for a period of time. It can help you relax, it can soothe any worries, and it can even help you decide how to deal with situations you may be facing. It’s not an instant fix, but if you get into a habit of practising mindfulness, then you can reap the rewards. Apps like Headspace or YouTube tutorials are excellent for guiding you through the mindfulness process.
Set clear boundaries
It can be easy to take too much on at work – we want to be seen as reliable and so we might often take on extra tasks or projects when we don’t really have the capacity for it. Make sure to tell colleagues and managers when you’re at capacity so that they don’t unduly increase your workload. This will help with your organisation and, in turn, help to decrease stress – multitasking is seen as a virtue, but it’s important that we keep it in check. Don’t ever be afraid to ask someone for help if you have too much to do, or if you’re struggling with your work.
Out-of-hours behaviour
Today, you can easily stay connected to everyone and everything 24 hours a day, from video calls to email apps on our phones, and it’s often difficult to leave our work behind when we can check our inbox on the sofa. However, staying in work mode long after you’ve finished for the day is detrimental to mental health and a key stressor for many people. Your time outside work hours is your own – the emails can wait and the project can be resumed when you’re back in the office. Use your free time to do things you enjoy.
Reducing stress at work is essential for our mental and physical well-being. From mindfulness to exercise, coffee breaks to healthy snacks, there’s plenty we can do to reduce the toll that work can sometimes take. Nu Vending are proud to provide state-of-the-art coffee machines, cold drinks, confectionery and healthy snack machines for businesses across London, helping to keep staff nourished, healthy and happy. For more information, simply contact us today.
