Stress Elimination

 Tips To Decrease Stress At Work

CHICAGO - According to a recent article in the September 27 issue of Newsweek magazine, 60-90 percent of all doctor visits are for stress-related illnesses. Stress affects us all and it is especially rampant at the office, where it is not only costly to employees but also to the companies they work for in terms of absenteeism and poor performance. Under stress, you cannot perform at your optimum level.

Following is a list of ten ways to deal with office stress that can help you not fall prey to its ill effects:

1. ORGANIZE!

The most important element to get rid of stress is organization. You must learn to organize your time, your records, and even your interruptions (more about each below).

2. PLAN!

End each work day by evaluating what you've accomplished that day and, more importantly, by reviewing your schedule for the following day. Schedule telephone calls for times when you are most likely to reach the other party and plan the topics you want to cover prior to the conversation. Review your "to do" list, see what appointments are coming up, what projects you need to work on. List them in order of importance. It needn't take more than 10 minutes. Then close the book on that work day and go home. Even if you're stuck in traffic on your way home, your mind should be congestion-free. You'll even sleep better.

3. PRIORITIZE!

Not enough emphasis can be given to the importance of establishing goals and mapping a strategy that will take you there. Each successive step must be charted as a priority. Make a written list of everything that must be done in order of importance, then tackle the list beginning with the most vital objective before going on to the next task or project in order of importance. Avoid the common practice of procrastinators who usually do the easiest-usually less important-jobs first.

4. TAKE MOOD BREAKS!

At least once in the morning and once in the afternoon take time to leave your desk and do something that will energize you. The August '04 issue of Entrepreneur magazine suggests trying the ".....stress-relief CD 'Laugh It Off' to lift your spirits. The CD features sounds of people laughing to help get you in a giggling mood. Don't laugh: Experts say the technique works. Priced at $10, the CD is available at HYPERLINK "http://www.heyugly.org" and proceeds from each sale of each CD benefits this 501C3 nonprofit organization that helps teens.

5. DECIDE!

Do it, delegate it, or discard it. Once you get a project, decide how it will be handled and who will handle it. If you elect to do it, assign a priority to the project. If you decide to have someone else do it, act on that decision immediately. Such decisions and actions preclude inertia, work pile-up, and interference from unexpected projects that might later materialize.

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