by Maria C Collins

Created on: July 30, 2010   Last Updated: August 04, 2010

Some people think office work is a much easier ride than manual or other work. Stress can, and does, arise in the office as much as any other workplace. Excess stress has very damaging effects on workers’ physical and mental health.

There are many strategies, which you can use to help you to cope with office stress. One of the most important is to look after your general physical health. Ensure that you get sufficient sleep for you if you need ten hours a night to be on top form make sure that you get that. Eating a healthy and balanced diet will help your body to combat stress and its effects. On work mornings especially, eat a healthy breakfast, research proves conclusively that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and helps you to concentrate on your work.

Always leave yourself time in the mornings to get to work comfortably. Arriving at work harassed and stressed before you begin will only make matters worse and not better.

Arrange your work in order of priority. If you can do so, do difficult or intricate tasks, first thing in the morning when you are fresh and your mind is at its most alert.

Develop your listening skills so that when you are given a task you hear the instructions and parameters for that task clearly, know what you are doing and do not get worried that you do not know how to complete it. Ask sufficient questions to ensure that you have understood instructions properly.

Taking your lunch at your desk is a very bad habit; take yourself away from the office in your lunch hour. Get outside if possible and take a walk around the shops or in the park, anywhere that you like. This gives your mind a rest, gives you a little exercise and relieves stress.

Try to remain positive, a positive attitude will help you to ride out stressful times in the office. A negative attitude only heightens stress levels.

Keeping a happy balance between home, family and social life at work is a very good way to ensure that stress has no chance to invade your life. You need that happy balance to maintain your mental and emotional well-being.

If there is a particular situation or issue at work that causes undue stress, you should discuss it with your manager. He or she may be able to solve the issue or be able to advise you as to how to cope with it better.

To alleviate stress in the office you must take care of your physical and mental well-being and try to remove, alleviate or balance stress-making factors.

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