There are two kinds of people in this world: those who love to work, and those who don’t. But the one factor that bridges the gap between those two categories is: “Stress” The mere thought of work can be stressful at times, and stress becomes a difficult barrier to overcome in many circumstances. A stressed mind is a haven of bad thoughts and negativity, and such circumstances are not helpful for getting to fight stress. Pressure may be your ally, but stress is always your worst enemy, both at work and in your personal life. That is why we at The Hacker Street would like to bring you some of our top suggested ways to alleviate stress.
Act to solve whatever is causing you stress
Stress is primarily mental. We take one problem, over-analyze it and end up with a hotchpotch of interlinked mazes, all of which exist in our mind. You need to be in control of your responses and responsible for your actions instead of creating an amalgamation of problems. Thus, one way to get rid of stress would be to act, not react to the problem.
Deep Breathe to fight stress
An archaic yet supremely effective solution to stress would be a few deep breaths. The method of deep breathing is preached by meditation gurus and counselors from around the world. All you need to do is retreat to somewhere silent, sit, clear your head of thoughts and breathe deeply for a few minutes. The world will seem like a better place, and your mind will be at peace.
Think Positive to fight stress
While easier said than done, positive thoughts help calm down the mind and increase your productivity by leaps and bounds. There will be incidents throughout the day to throw you off your path and to make your life miserable. You should interpret these challenges as opportunities, not oppression and then you shall know the path to true success.
Cut down on Interruptions to fight stress
Throughout the day, we are faced with emails, phone calls, reminders and meetings. While they are important, you must never forget to prioritize in a manner that improves your productivity. When you are stressed, there is nothing wrong in avoiding your phone or email and take a break. You will see that this will improve your mental state a lot, and will change your entire outlook.
Plan your day to fight stress
While it is impossible to maintain a schedule for every minute of every day, the importance of having a plan cannot be overemphasized upon, particularly in hectic workplaces. It is important that you are able to anticipate what you day shall bring, thus cutting down on surprises and relieving mental tension. You must maintain a balance between your work and your social life in order to avoid high levels of stress and fatigue. Remember: home is where the heart is.
Laugh to fight stress
The best natural stress buster available. Laughing improves our mood and turns our outlook right around, enabling us to see the best of this world. Under stress, all that happens is that we recreate old problems and create imaginary scenarios, and muddle ourselves up in our head. Laughter cuts through all that and shows you the positive side of life which is something which people usually forget when at work. For quick laughs, check funny websites like 9Gag or watch funny videos on YouTube. It is guaranteed to make you feel better.
Eat to fight stress
Eating works as a great way to shift your concentration to something that makes you happy and giving your taste buds a tingle in the process. It is recommended that you never stay hungry, no matter what your workload may be, in order to maintain your health and your level of performance. A stressed mind combined with a hungry stomach equals a recipe for disaster. Eating something light and delicious can give your mood a boost and make you feel full, improving your thinking process. However, this does not mean that you will munch down on a box of unhealthy snacks or cookies to feel better. Something light, like a sandwich or an apple, works best and is recommended by nutritionists worldwide.
Sleep to fight stress
After a day of hard work, your body needs time to revitalize itself. Sleep is the best way to meet this goal. Sleep rejuvenates you and prepares your body for the next day. Not getting enough sleep usually results in heightened levels of stress and fatigue, which can hinder your work. Some counselors also recommend a fifteen minute power nap at work if you’re feeling too stressed in order to boost yourself.
Exercise regularly to fight stress
A fit and healthy body results in a healthy mind as well. The body is the temple of the mind, and as such, it must function ably and must be taken care of. Even President Barack Obama works out for a minimum of 30 minutes before his day begins, and we must strive to emulate the greatest. Proper exercise and a healthy diet can reduce stress levels, and a short walk during moments of stress helps clear the mind.
Delegate responsibilities to fight stress
You should accept only the amount of workload which you can cope with. Overextending yourself by a long shot is never a good idea. Instead, keep a manageable portion of the work for yourself, and delegate the other portions to your colleagues or your teammates. You must focus only on the work that you have to do, instead of trying to manage everyone else.
Talk to people to fight stress
In our current busy lives, the scope of human interaction is very limited. It cannot be emphasized upon just how important it is for you to talk to other people. When you share your troubles with someone else, you no longer have to carry the burden all on your own. You must take time out to talk about your life with your friends and family.
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