Stress relief in the Workplace

Check out these ideas from Lifestyle Councillor Beth King on how to relief stress at work.

 

Relieving stress at work is something that most people wish they could do and while a person may not be able to reduce it 100% there are products and things you can bring in that will help to lessen the stress. It probably isn't possible to change the furniture or color of the walls but there are products that can be brought in that will not change the decor or structure of the work place.  Listed below are just some of the products that are easy and affordable.

 

1.  Headphones.  These can be used with your ipod or any type of MP3 player and possibly used with your computer.  Listening to music or nature sounds can be relaxing a a great way to reduce stress.

 

2.  White noise machines.  These often have options such as birds chirping, waves crashing or wind blowing, all of which can be relaxing yet not distracting.  These are available at stores such as Target, Walmart and many on line stores including Amazon.com

 

3.  Stress relief toys.  These are bendable toys, soft balls to squeeze and even small games that serve not only as stress relief but a distraction for a few minutes which can bring relief.  Many office supply stores carry these as well as online stores such as officeplayground.com.  They are inexpensive and can be put in a drawer or carried around easily.

 

4.  Items that have moving magnetic balls, sand, etc. can be relaxing when you watch them and can provide a very similar affect as meditation.

 

Not only can these products be purchased easily and inexpensively but bringing in some of the comforts of home can also help with stress relief.  Think about the number of hours most spend at their job compared to the amount of time spent in the home.  It's sad but true that often times, people spend more hours in their office at their desk than they do at home so why not bring decorative items in?  A nice pretty desk lamp can not only offer additional lighting but make the space more attractive and therefore, more appealing to be in.  

 

Scents are also shown to reduce stress and even change a mood and give energy and clear thinking.  There are many aromatherapy products such as scented oils, reed sticks and even gel sticks that can be purchased inexpensively at most stores selling home goods, including grocery stores.

 

Pictures from home, of loved ones, family, sunsets or anything else that reminds one of the things they love outside of the office can reduce stress and give a feeling of peace and well being.

 

Since exercise is a great stress reducer, exercise bands can be used at the desk along with small hand held weights.  There are several sites on line, such as realage.com that offers videos of exercises that can be done sitting down.  Take a 15 minute break and do a mini work out to relieve stress and energize.  

 

Sometimes something as simple as paper and colored pencils or even crayons to doodle on and color with can also bring instant stress relief.  These things are minimal in cost, easy to carry and will not create distraction or interruptions to other co-workers.   Try to combine a few of the ideas listed above and see how not only will you be reducing stress but will be spending time in an environment that is more comfortable and motivating.

 

For more information, log onto http://www.helium.com/items/2277550-the-best-stress-relief-products-that-you-can-use-in-the-office

Top 10 Causes of Stress

We all experience stress. What may be stressful to me, may not bother you at all. Although we are all very different, there are certain common stressors that cause us all anxiety, just on varying levels of severity. According to the Livestrong Foundation, the following are the top 10 causes of stress.

 

Childhood Trauma

Some individuals experience long-term stress as a result of a traumatic childhood. The Adverse Childhood Experiences Study, milestone research in 1998, found that difficult emotional experiences as a child can cause physical stress on the body throughout life. Children who live in abusive homes, or who grow up living with an alcoholic or drug abuser often suffer more psychological stress throughout adulthood.

 

Death of a Loved One

The Holmes-Raye Social Readjustment Rating Scale shows that the death of a spouse can be one of the most stressful events a person can face. Stress is made worse when a couple owes a lot of debts and the remaining spouse must worry about finances on top of grieving the loss of a spouse. Issues can be compounded even more if someone loses a spouse while there are still minor children living at home.

Divorce

Divorce is another leading cause of stress among men and women, this according to the Holmes-Raye scale. In addition to dealing with a variety of stressful emotions, divorce usually means that one or both spouses must leave their home. Individuals also may be dealing disagreements involving division of property, finances, child support and custody issues.

Finances

Finances, particularly mortgage foreclosures, are another leading cause of stress ranking at the top of the Holmes-Raye stress assessment scale. People who live in poverty, and individuals who face overwhelming debt or bankruptcy usually experience high levels of stress.

Job

Work-related stress is common among men and women who have demanding jobs and work long hours. Workers also tend to be more stressed during poor economic times when they worry about layoffs or a reduction in hours.

Health

Personal health issues can be stressful on both children and adults. Working to get well, worrying about medical costs or dealing with an unexpected health crisis or chronic illness can all bring on stress. The sad part is that stress itself contributes to disease. In fact, the World Health Organization estimates that within the next 10 years, stress-related conditions like depression will rank as the second leading cause of disability worldwide.

Personal Relationships

Everyone is stressed at times by personal relationships, even when relationships are basically good. Couples argue, parents and children fight and occasionally conflict among friends or co-workers can create stresss

Chronically Ill Child

Parents who have a child with a serious health problem or injury frequently are under a great deal of stress. They worry about the recovery of their child, and may find it difficult to see their child suffering or in pain. There can be financial worries associated with a child's illness as well.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy, too, can be a stressful event. This is particularly true of pregnancies which were not planned, or pregnancies that result in serious complications for the mother, child or both. Another problem is that sometimes couples realize that they are not as ready financially or emotionally for a child as they thought they were

Danger

Dangerous situations such as fires, automobile accidents or being the victim of crime can cause stress. Any hazardous event that is out of the ordinary for an individual can cause either short- or long-term physical or emotional stress.

Please refer to http://www.livestrong.com/article/132015-top-10-causes-stress/ for more information.

 

Do you feel this article has missed any other life stressers? Please add your comments.