Workplace Stress? Cool Is The Rule

12/23/2014 by Don Phin

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WORKPLACE STRESS? COOL IS THE RULE

These tips can help you — and your employees — stay calm under pressure:

1. Telecommute when you can. When life gets crazy, the freedom to work from home can provide a sense of control. Telecommuting helps ease stress, reduce air pollution, and (believe it or not) increase productivity.

2. Enjoy lunch and work breaks. Take short breaks throughout the day to reduce stress.

3. Make the most of your time off. Use a floating vacation day to let off steam. Get plenty of sleep. Make time for exercise. Pursue activities that help get you back on an even keel, such as hanging out with friends or enjoying a hobby.

4. Take regular stretch breaks. The human body isn’t designed to sit all day. From time to time, raise your hands over your head or walk briskly to the water cooler and back. If you have sore wrists, stretch your fingers and hands. Hunch your shoulders as you look up, hold this position for a few seconds, and repeat several times.

5. Use flexible scheduling. In many workplaces, workers are freer than ever to tailor their schedules around personal needs (as long as they do a full day’s work). Employee ownership of the work schedule can reduce stress by providing flexibility to meet the demands of daily life. For example, coming to work earlier and leaving earlier, or coming in later and working later might fit with a worker’s family schedule and lessen the stress of commuting.

Don Phin, JD, CPCM is president of HR That Works, Inc., a firm specializing in management, employment law, and risk management. He serves as the Human Relations Key Consultant for IMMS.com. Phin, a past president of the American Academy of Employment Law Attorneys, can be reached at (800) 234-3304; e-mail [email protected]; or visit www.hrthatworks.com.

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