Five Ways to Prevent Holiday Stress in the Work Place - Walrath Recruiting, Inc.

Five Ways to Prevent Holiday Stress in the Work Place - Walrath Recruiting, Inc. Stay Physically Healthy The holiday season is full of stress, obligations, fun and family time. None of which you’ll be able to participate in if you get sick.  It is important that you are eating healthy and regularly. Do not skip meals. Regardless of how busy you get, make time for at least a healthy snack. Eating regularly will keep your immune system strong, and your mind full and focused. Exercise is also a key part of keeping up physically during the holiday chaos. Making time to work out, will not only help minimize your guilty conscience about those extra holiday treats, but it also releases a chemical in the brain that stimulates happiness and positive energy (endorphins), eliminating stress and improving sleep. Positive Attitude Be careful not to sulk at work, wishing you were home and staring at the clock counting down the minutes until the end of your shift. It is important to keep a positive attitude in the office. Regardless of your role in the work place, staying positive will greatly improve productivity. As an employer, try to set an example. Be festive; host a holiday party, put decorations up around the office or bring in treats on a Monday morning. Keeping the environment as light and merry as possible will make everyone happier and more productive. As an employee, you should make your best attempt at being festive as well. Participate in the festivities; use them as an incentive to get your work done, a light at the end of the tunnel. Keep Personal Life at Home Although this is a healthy way to live your life all year long, it is especially important around the holidays. As your to-do list seems to get longer and the hours in the day seem shorter, be sure to stay focused on the task directly in front of you. You may feel the urge to shop online during your breaks at work, make a work call on your way to the mall, or send a quick email before the Christmas movie starts, but don’t. Keep your personal life at home and keep your work in the office. This is an easy way to enjoy every moment of valuable family time, as well as eliminate stress and increase productivity at work. Tip: Make two separate to-do lists, one for work responsibilities and one for personal obligations, that way there is no grey area or second guessing your current focus. Take Regular Breaks Even if you are eating healthy, trying your best to stay positive, and only working on one project at a time; there is so much going on that your mind is bound to drift to other things at some point. When you find yourself struggling to focus on your work, take a break. Take a walk around the office to keep the blood flowing, get a drink of water and refocus. Regular breaks increase productivity and eliminate frustration with your wandering mind. Avoid Multitasking When you’re overwhelmed and have trouble deciding which task to focus on at which time, you may be tempted to multitask. Doubling up on projects at work in order to get things done faster is a common coping strategy. This way you save time and are able utilize a longer lunch break or get out early. However, it also adds more confusion and unnecessary additional stress to your life. Make your life easier and take it one step at a time. Create a list and prioritize the things that need to be done. Once something has been accomplished, cross it off the list. Baby steps, don’t overwhelm yourself, enjoy the holiday season! Related Posts: Tips to get rid of Holiday Stress Stay Productive during the holidays Time management at the office Written By: Hanna Holekamp