Stressing yourself SICK? Time management guru tells how to keep your cool in the office
DEADLINES are looming, your boss is in a foul mood and your inbox has reached a new capacity.
Many people consider the workplace to be the most stressful environment
Sound familiar? The workplace is regarded by many as one of the most stressful environments to be in.
Recent research revealed stressing in the workplace could be shaving years off your life.
The study, conducted by Harvard and Stanford, quantified just how much a stressful job can impact our health to find the alarming results.
Further research conducted by The Stress Management Society found that over a fifth (21 per cent) of Brits want to make improvements to their workplace wellbeing.
While we know stress is doing us damage, finding ways to combat it effectively can be incredibly difficult.
Emails, work phones and operating in foreign global markets mean our work hours are longer than ever.
Clare Evans suggests playing soothing music to ease stress
Ambient music or soundscapes can help you concentrate better
Many health experts hail meditation for its stress-busting benefits, but being able to clear the mind is very difficult for some.
Thankfully, there are some simple ways you can keep your calm, according to Clare Evans, author of Time Management for Dummies.
Below are Clare's top tips to minimise stress in the workplace.
Book a meeting for yourself
if you need to escape the 'at desk' interruptions - book a meeting room and work from there for a couple of hours.
If it's on a different floor to your office/desk, so much the better for some undisturbed work time.
Distressed Lion roars sadly in zoo enclosure as people watch on
People are working longer hours than ever before
Play music
Or sounds that are conducive to working and that help block out background noise or noisy offices. Ambient music or soundscapes can help you concentrate better, stay focused and get more done.
Clare Evans says taking a walk can be a great stress relief
Take a walk
If you're stuck, lacking concentration or trying to find a solution to a difficult problem - go for a walk or a run, outside preferably.
The steady rhythm switches your brain into a different state allowing your subconscious to deal with the problem.