STRESS LESS

THERE is an abundance of information on the Internet on how to reduce stress at work, but we suppose those who really need it won’t have the time to go looking for it. So we’ve summed them up in five points right here:

1. Take care of yourself

We Malaysians are known for a particularly unhealthy way of life, so this is the first point we’d like to stress (pun intended). Eat right, sleep well, drink lots of water and always, always fit in some exercise time.

2. Organise and prioritise!

Understand your role in the company, know what your most important roles are, and schedule your day accordingly – that’s the advice of business psychologist Dr Sharon Melnick on Forbes.com. If you don’t prioritise and organise your daily duties, you’ll create a cycle of unproductivity and stress. If you need help organising, try mobile apps like Teux Deux or Evernote, or go to BulletJournal.com for some great ideas on organising your journal effectively.

3. Take a deep breath

If you’re feeling overwhelmed even after all your organising and prioritising, Melnick says there’s only one thing to do – breathe. Clear your head by taking a deep breath – inhale for five seconds, hold it there for a moment, and exhale through your nose. You’d be surprised what a difference it’ll make.

4. Break bad habits

Helpguide.org says to reduce stress, you should identify your bad habits, and make an effort to change. It’s often our own bad habits – like procrastinating, or even being too much of a control freak – that cause us stress.

5. EQ is just as important as IQ

Improving your “Emotional Intelligence” plays an important role in reducing workplace stress, according Helpguide.org. There are two ways to do this. Number one, learn to understand your own emotions, so you can avoid letting your feelings affect the way you work. Number two, be self-aware, so you can avoid causing unnecessary conflict with your colleagues.