Stress is a common issue all of us face, it is the disease of the 21st century. There are several reasons why we suffer from this issue so much today. The job market is incredibly competitive, everybody seems to have more diplomas and qualifications than you have. The economy is recovering, but it’s still wobbly, and we are never sure what the future might bring. Furthermore, we are constantly bombarded by negative news, dark information, and marketing from all sides. Simply put, stress is a common part of life.

Now, this is where this article comes in. Namely, handling stress in the office is probably the most important part of getting this common issue under control. Most of our stress comes from this area, from this direction, and it’s up to you to get it under control. So, we have taken the liberty of writing up a couple of tips on how you can maintain your well-being and your sanity in a stressful work environment. 

Take care of your body

First things first – you should take care of your body if you want to reduce stress. Namely, taking care of oneself is key in becoming more resilient, and just better at dealing with the stressors and the drama of everyday life. If you are healthy, you feel better, you look better, you have more energy, more zeal to tackle whatever the day has in store for you. Treating your body like a temple means you will get sick less often, as well as improve your overall wellbeing.

So, first of all, try eating healthy. Replace your bad snacks and junk food with healthy items, like fruit, veggies, peanuts, walnuts… Bring some food from home, cook up some rice and grill some chicken breast. Furthermore, you also want to eat regularly – don’t skip on breakfast, get a strong, fat and protein-heavy meal. 

As far as exercise is concerned, you don’t have to spend hours at the gym every single week. It’s enough to go out for a jog from time to time, join up a martial arts club, or whatever else suits your fancy. 

Change the things you can, accept the things you can’t

Now, this sounds a bit overly dramatic, but it has a purpose. Namely, there are certain annoying things in the office that cause us stress that we simply can’t avoid. A difficult client, the changing market, general things that make your job what it actually is. Some things need to be accepted, they need to be made peace with. Others, however, should be changed, since you shouldn’t let them control you and direct you. 

However, some things you can control. Namely, you can ask your boss for new and more modern equipment to help you get going. You can also say no to certain tasks, as long as you stand up to yourself. 

Whether it’s a simple thing like getting better working conditions or actually dealing with getting respect and a positive work environment, you can only get what you want if you actually ask. If push comes to shove, you might need to contact professional workplace harassment lawyers to get an unruly and disrespectful manager under control. Maybe go to your boss and explain the situation. Know that your stress levels will only increase if you allow others to walk over you. We are not saying quit, veto, or threaten to leave. We are simply saying that standing up for yourself can yield amazing results.

Get enough sleep and rest

Next, you need your rest. There is a limit to how much you can take, how much you can push yourself. There comes a point where you simply have to pull a stop to it, to calm down and take a breather. Make rest a priority, don’t try to cram as many activities as you can into your schedule. Learning how to rest and how to manage your energy is one of the core, vital parts of living a stress-free life (or at least minimizing it). 

Next, try to get at least 7 hours of sleep every night. People pride themselves on only sleeping as little as they can, believing that they are disciplined or that they have powerful willpower. While this actually might be true, as it isn’t easy to pull through a 70-hour workweek on 5 hours of sleep per night, it has its own price. Unless you are a freak of nature, you will suffer the consequences of a lack of sleep and rest quickly. You will feel sluggish, unfocused, your immune system will suffer severely.

Conclusion

And there you have it folks, some tips on how to maintain your sanity and wellbeing in the stressful environment of the office. You’ll notice that the best advice mostly centers on what you do outside of your office. Get enough sleep and rest, workout and take care of your body. This will prepare you to better handle the workplace. Then, standing up for yourself, and being honest with your feelings, needs, and wants can also mean a great deal. Accept the things you can’t change, and change the things you can.