Whether it’s due to a tight deadline, an uncertain job climate, or a demanding boss, work related stress is a common ailment in the workplace. For many, it has become harder than ever to cope with workplace anxiety regardless of occupation, seniority, or salary level. While some stress is an accepted part of work and can be a good motivator, excessive pressure can lead to unproductive stress — which will undermine your performance and potentially make you sick.

It is important to recognize that it is impossible to escape from pressure at work altogether as there will always be certain pressures on you in the workplace. The key to dealing with stress is how you manage the pressures that you face. The ability to manage stress in the workplace can improve your physical and emotional health, and can also make the difference between success and failure on the job.

Deal with problems as soon as possible. Putting off dealing with a problem will prevent you from getting on with other tasks efficiently, and could potentially lead to a build-up of other problems — which will only cause you more anxiety.

Manage your time effectively. Prioritize your tasks, delegate work when possible, and make sure you don’t take on more than you can handle. Completing one task before going on to the next one will allow you to forget about the task you’ve completed and move onto the next thing with a clearer, focused mind.

Take a time out. Taking frequent breaks will help you to focus better. Use these short breaks to do some simple stretching exercises to prevent your muscles from getting tired. Also, going for a short walk at lunchtime, for example, can help take your mind off work. Some people make the mistake when under pressure at work of skipping breaks because they’re trying to catch up — when in fact simply having a break would be of more benefit.

Seek help. Asking for help can be hard. But if you don’t ask then people may not realize the amount of stress you are under. Seeking help can range from getting practical help in the workplace from another colleague to discussing problems or concerns with your employer. Confiding in trusted work colleagues, friends and relatives is a useful way of ridding yourself of stressful feelings. Other people can give you a different perspective on problems and help you to find potential solutions.

Consider changes to your lifestyle. Not only can stress cause insomnia, but a lack of sleep can leave you vulnerable to even more stress. When you’re well rested, it’s much easier to keep your emotional balance. Be sure to make smart food choices that keep you going strong. Low blood sugar can make you feel anxious and irritable, while eating too much can make you lethargic. By eating small but frequent meals throughout the day, you can help your body maintain an even level of blood sugar and avoid these swings in mood. Also, keep active with aerobic exercise. Activity that raises your heart rate and makes you sweat is an effective way to lift your mood, increase energy, sharpen focus, and relax both the mind and body.

Celebrate your achievements. Avoid spending too much time thinking about what you didn’t get done today and what you have to do in the future. Instead, think about all those things that you did achieve and give yourself a pat on the back. Take each working day as it comes and celebrate the good things that you are responsible for doing and achieving.

Image Credit: Briody Fitness Health

Whether it’s a demanding boss who micro-manages everything you do, an aggressive co-worker who challenges you with power struggles, a toxic colleague who spews charged emotions, or a negative employee who gossips about everyone in the office, working with difficult people is draining, frustrating and time consuming. Here are a few suggestions that will help you deal with difficult people in the workplace, so that you can love your job again.

Stay calm. Losing your temper in the midst of conflict will only escalate the situation.  Someone who is calm is seen as being in control, centered and more respectable. Would you prefer to work with someone who is calm or someone who is always on edge? When the person you are dealing with sees that you have control over your emotions, they will likely respond in the same manner.

Set boundaries. Be clear about how you deserve to be treated and how you want to treat others. Listen to your intuition and if you feel uncomfortable about something, try to address it. Be confident in yourself and demonstrate that you are someone worth treating with respect. Not everyone will have your best interests at heart, so look out for yourself and stand up for what you deserve.

Be assertive. If you find that you are getting to the point where you need to take action, try dealing with the person directly rather than talking behind their back. While it may be easier to talk to other people about an issue, if you don’t actually deal with the issue head on, the other person won’t be any the wiser. We all make mistakes and have upset others inadvertently at one time or the other so give the person a chance to know what you find difficult and the opportunity to set it straight.

Be in their shoes. As cliché as this may sound, we tend to forget that we become blind-sided in the situation. Try putting yourself in their position and consider how you may have hurt their feelings. This understanding will give you a new perspective on becoming rational again, and may also help you develop compassion for the other person.

Don’t take it personally. Just because someone is behaving in a certain manner, doesn’t mean anything about you. Try to disassociate their behaviour from how you feel about yourself. This can be tricky, but learning to develop a thick skin is an invaluable skill in any area of life. Get on with your daily tasks and try limiting your interactions with the person.

Get Help. Sometimes you can try everything to resolve a situation and nothing seems to work. If this is the case, please don’t suffer in silence. If a relationship with a colleague is causing you anxiety or affecting your work, it’s time to ask for support. There is nothing wrong with asking for help when you need it. Speak to a manager or a human resources representative that you trust. However, be sure you have exhausted all other means before you take this step.