All stressed out at work?

SOMETIMES I feel that I am always stressed out. Work piles up, time passes so quickly and worse, nothing seems to be finished by the end of the day! Sometimes I worry about the tons of work that I am supposed to be doing that I unconsciously waste an entire day just thinking about them. By evening, I feel tired and worn out already -- physically stressed, emotionally drained. There are even times when I feel so stressed out that I begin to dread looking at the calendar because it reminds me of the many deadlines yet to come.

If you feel the same way that I do, chances are that you are suffering from work related stress too. In fact, I’m sure that many adults do. Following most experts’ advice, I usually take a break every now and then to stretch up and relax a bit. Unfortunately, for a home-based freelancer like I am, there’s a lot more to these short “breaks” than just a cup of coffee. Sometimes I get so relaxed that I oftentimes lose track of the time and end up doing no work at all for the rest of the day. Getting work done at home than in the office is really harder than it seems; at home the temptations are overwhelming: television, bed, books, video games, telephone, food, Internet, etc…

So instead of being a professional on a short break, you magically transform into a master procrastinator. And if there are bills to pay, procrastination is definitely an expensive habit. Fearing that I might become a permanent fixture in our living room as a couch potato despite the work that calls for my attention, I resolve to find out how I can prevent work stress in the first place.

To start with, stress is basically a good thing and very normal. Our body has several automatic responses to certain events and the most common reaction is the fight or flight response. Whenever we are faced with great danger, imaginary or otherwise, our body prepares us to face it. Hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline are released into the bloodstream and our bodies go from normal to turbo. Our senses become sharper and our reactions quicker. Our blood also becomes thicker as our body anticipates possible wounds from the ordeal. Our heart rate also increases and breathing becomes rapid and shallow.

Despite the thousand of years of evolution, our body’s reaction to danger remains roughly the same as it is in the days of cavemen. Our body simply does not recognize the difference between real and imaginary danger. Our body treats our fear of losing our jobs the same way as if our lives are being threatened. Since our lives are not really on the line, this means that the cause of our stress is only imaginary. We believe that we are in trouble, so our body reacts to that imaginary danger.

In order to relieve our body of that danger, we should rethink our perception of work and reexamine our working habits.

Here are some tips you should consider:

1. Plan out your day.
Try to list down all the activities and tasks that you want to accomplish on the next day. Planning not only helps you prepare for it mentally over the night, but it also helps you keep your focus.

2. Take it one step at a time.
All big things start from small beginnings and you should too. Start with something small and work your way up. Divide big projects into smaller tasks that you can finish easily instead of tackling all of it in one sitting.

3. Know your limits and learn to say “No!”
A person can only do so much in a day and you are not an exception. Try to find out how much you can do and how well you can do it. Put a limit when you can accept more work without sacrificing quality and your health.

4. Learn to ask for help.
If you have so much to do and so little time to do it, ask for help! Asking for help does not only save you time but also helps you learn new things from different people. And be polite when asking.

5. Take a break.
Even big industrial machines need to cool down once in a while. Remember, it’s hard to find a replacement for a stressed out heart than it is to screw in a new light bulb. So take a break whenever you can. You can either go for a short walk or do simple stretching exercises. Anything is fine as long as it takes your mind off your work for a few minutes.

6. Love your work.
The one reason why people are so stressed out is because they don’t like their work. If your work is boring, then try to break your routine. Read some motivational books on how to change your perception of your job. Just remember that we work to live, not live to work. If all else fails, looking for a new job is probably the key. I know this one is easier said than done, but it’s not impossible. Try it!

7. Save money for rainy days.
Money may not be the key to happiness but it sure does make the world go round. Don’t spend what you have earned all at once. Save some in the bank for future necessities. Working is a lot easier when you know that you are financially secured!

8. Surround yourself with happy shiny people.
A pat on the back, a word of encouragement, a cheerful smile – just what the doctor orders for depressing and blue days. And don’t forget to return the favor. If you have anything to say, make sure it’s a compliment.

9. Don’t procrastinate.
Don’t put off for tomorrow what you can do today. If you do, your work might pile up if you receive additional assignments. The last thing you’ll need is a series of back-to-back deadlines.

10. Don’t worry be happy.
Sometimes it’s best to realize that despite all our efforts and good intentions, some things are still bound to go wrong. In times like these, don’t blame yourself. Like it goes in the movie, life is a box of chocolate – you’ll never know what you’ll get. *

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