According to the 2019 OpinionWay barometer of the Mutuelle générale de l’Éducation Nationale, 40% of workers report experiencing “high stress” at work. This “illness of the century” can have numerous negative effects on health, productivity, and employees’ personal lives. So how can we reduce this stress? What are its causes?
Accept your situation
First and foremost, it is important to identify a work overload and acknowledge that it is too much. Unfortunately, the normalization of stress is often too widespread in companies. Indeed, today, it has almost become normal to be under constant stress, with companies expecting their employees to be extra-efficient and meet unattainable performance goals. This is why it is important to talk about it with a close confidant, a team member, or your team leader to “unload your burden” and accept your situation in order to take appropriate action.
Improve your office comfort
Your office is a bit like a second home, which is why it is important to take care of it. Decorate your office with family photos and gadgets that make you smile. Also, try to create a minimalist space with a minimum of loose papers. Adding a green plant can also improve your daily life. Beneficial for minimizing pollution and providing relaxation, office plants have real health benefits.
Also, make sure to clear out your email inbox and take a few minutes each day to plan your day.
Take care of your health
Take care of your body by adding at least 30 minutes of exercise per day. Physical activity stimulates dopamine and endorphins, promoting a good mood. Why not take a lunch break while walking? Or work standing up?
At work, make sure to have a comfortable chair so as not to harm your posture and back. It’s also important to check the noise level if you work in a noisy office or factory. According to an INSEE study, 81% of 18-35-year-olds report being disturbed by noise at their workplace.
Avoid an abundance of sweets and favor a healthy diet: fruits, legumes, whole grains for lunch.
Breathe
Learning relaxation techniques can also be a good solution to combat rising stress and anxiety levels. You can start by taking deep breaths through your nose when you feel stress rising. This might seem simple, but the benefits are proven.
Indeed, it has been proven that meditation and yoga are extremely effective in combating stress, especially the dragon breathing technique, which involves taking a deep breath through the nostrils and slowly exhaling the air through the mouth as if blowing through a straw.
In summary, we are all, to some extent, affected by stressful situations daily, especially at work, but it is essential to know how to manage stress in order to increase productivity and also to avoid developing cardiovascular diseases caused by excessive daily stress.
