Stress management experts agree that employees and employers both can take steps to reduce stress in the workplace.
Some of their suggestions are:
For Employees
- Schedule three small "pleasures" into each work day. For instance, schedule lunch with a friend, listen to a favorite tape on the way into work or bring fresh flowers to the office.
- Spend leisure time engaged in hobbies or activities that differ from what you have to do at work every day. For instance, if you have a sedentary job do something physical in your free time.
- Take a short break when feeling stressed on the job. Get up from your desk and walk around.
- Take care of yourself. Exercise, eat healthful food and get plenty of rest.
- Learn some relaxation techniques. Try meditation.
For Employers
- Provide employees with clear, specific job descriptions in writing.
- Set realistic deadlines.
- Set priorities and stick to them.
- Allow employees to use creativity in solving problems and give them some choices in how to do their job.
- Delegate authority along with responsibility.
- Give positive feedback for a job well done.
- Allow employees to take breaks.
- Allow employees to make use of flex-time scheduling so that they can meet family obligations.
- Larger companies could consider providing things like exercise facilities to promote healthy habits and reduce stress and day care on the premises because that is a major source of worry in many workers' lives.
- Provide good health benefits.
