If you are human then you have probably experienced stress at work. It is natural to feel overwhelmed at times, but it is how we deal with these feelings that affect our quality of life. There are many things we can do to help us cope with our stress everyday.

A little background about myself… I am in my fifth year of teaching. I am an eighth grade bilingual/ESL teacher. I teach in English and Spanish and work with students who are new to the United States. Teaching is a job that takes a lot of patience and compassion. When I first began teaching I was constantly stressed out, not sleeping well and in fear that I would burn out way too quickly in this career. It took making some life changes for me to be happy in my current job. I am now in a place where I love my job, sleep well at night and no longer constantly feel stressed! By making some simple changes and using some new coping strategies, I am no longer plagued by the stress that constantly kept me down. Follow these simple strategies to help alleviate your stress at work today.
 

1. Seek Support

If work is becoming stressful and you are having difficulty completing a task or have a question, seek help! There are supervisors and administrators at jobs for a reason. These people, typically, have the expertise to help you address issues. Don’t take on the burden all by yourself, seek the support of others who may have helpful strategies or easy ways to complete a task.
 

2. Take Breaks!

Know your limits. Oftentimes while we are at work or completing work at home we get frustrated. We think to ourselves, “I need a break”, “I can’t do this anymore”, “I don’t want to do this anymore”. When these thoughts come into your mind, it is a signal! Unless you have only been working for five minutes you probably need a break or need to be done for the day. It is ok to leave something for tomorrow! It is ok to take a break and come back to it later. Taking breaks will save your sanity and give you more energy to complete tasks.
 

3. Keep Mealtime Sacred

While at work or working from home, take the time to eat your breakfast, lunch or dinner in peace! At times we think it may be easier to eat while working because it will save us time. This practice can cause you to become stressed out! Be mindful while eating your meals. Take the time for yourself to eat in peace and rejuvenate your energy before you return to work. Even if you only take a seven-minute break, these seven minutes allow your mind to relax and focus on something other than work. It is important to take time for yourself and take care of yourself.
 

4. Decorate Your Workspace

Make your workplace a space you enjoy coming to. Decorate your space with pictures of loved ones, fun quotes or art. Use bright colors and keep plants in your room to brighten up the space. Make your workplace warm and inviting so you brain associates it with some sense of happiness. If you love your cubicle, office or room, you will be more likely to enjoy your place of work.
 

5. Stay Positive

Part of being positive is reminding yourself to stay calm, positive and peaceful in stressful situations. As a teacher my patience is constantly being tested. Several times throughout the day I have to remind myself to stay positive, I am constantly repeating the following phrases to myself “God give me patience”, “I love my job”, “I love myself”, “I am a good teacher”, “I have the strength to get through this”, “today is a good day”. Take a deep breath and remind yourself that you can handle any situation.
 

6. Stop Complaining!

Complaining is a disease and is addictive! People are constantly complaining about work, and about being overwhelmed, or being busy. The more you complain, the more you focus on the negative! Of course it is ok to express your feelings, but try to focus on the positive and not on the negative. Don’t surround yourself by others who are constantly complaining. When you focus on the negative it is simply going to add to your stress!
 

“Happiness comes when we stop complaining about the troubles we have and offer thanks for all the troubles we don’t have.” – Unknown