5 Tips for Staying Stress Free at Work

The holidays are here, events are stacking up and so is the stress.  I've put together 5 ways to help you combat stress while at work this season.

Your Desk is Your Sanctuary: One of the first things you can do to remove stress from the workplace is to organize your desk and make it your own space. There are so many desk organization tools available at stores like Target & The Container Store that cater to a variety of styles. If you’re not interested in buying new things, see what you have at home that you’re not using like mismatched coffee mugs or old picture frames. Personalizing your space will make you want to be there and keep you calm.

Surround Yourself with Things You Love & That Inspire You: Not only should you aim to have a nicely organized desk, you also add personal touches to your space that will make you happy throughout the day. These things could include a photo board with inspiring quotes from your favorite writer, pictures of you family or favorite pet or a vase of flowers (real or fake). 

Step Outside: Whether you go to lunch with a co-worker or take a five to ten minute stroll around the block, getting up from your desk and out of the office are important for your sanity. When you leave the office and get outside for some fresh air, it gives you the opportunity to stretch, burn a few calories and re-fuel for the rest of the day so that you can be on point and productive.

Communicate with Your Co-workers: You don’t need to be best friends with everyone that you work with, but, being able to communicate in an open and honest way are key for staying stress free at work. When you start bottling up emotions or concerns you might have about a project you’re working on, it makes it much more difficult to focus on the things you should be doing, like your job! Reach out to your coworkers when situations arise, deal with them immediately and move forward stress free.

Strike a Good Work-Life Balance: Sometimes all you really need to do to help you de-stress at work is to take a look at your work-life balance and observe whether it’s working for you or against you. One thing that’s always helped me to achieve a good work-life balance is to have activities outside of work that I enjoy, like going to the gym or yoga, and cooking a good meal a few times a week. These things give me the opportunity to unwind so that I’m more productive the next day. If you’re working challenging hours and can’t make it to your favorite activity, download an app like 7 Minute Workout Challenge or Yoga Break so that you can enjoy your favorite activity from home, even if it’s only for 15 minutes.

Beth, Winter Intern

Image via Free People