More than 80% of employees report stress from work every day, and some more than the other which has made it a mainstream issue as stress leads to less productivity at work, and the tasks that is being done through a stressed-out mind becomes invariably inefficient. Work can be overwhelming sometimes, especially when employees are chasing a deadline, or they don’t have the right environment to keep them from worrying or stressing about work. Also, the painful truth is that stress will surface many times, but what will help keep their effects minimal is knowing how to handle them. In this article, we have identified five (5) steps for handling stress at work and improving your overall efficiency and productivity. Identify your stressors This is the first step in managing stress at work. Once you can clearly define what is stressing you at work, you are half-way to getting rid of your stress. It could be a particular project, or task, a coworker, a manager, or even your workplace setting or environment itself? Once you know the source of your stress, you can start to develop a plan to address it. It is important to state though, that many times the cause of stress may not be obvious, and you might need some form of self-reflection, or even a professional assessment. It helps to keep a personal journal, take note of when you start to feel stressed, what happened at that moment to trigger the feeling. Once you identify the source of your stress, try to assess it objectively and decide if it is something within your control. If it is beyond your control, try to find ways to cope with the situation rather than trying to change it, and if you resolve that the situation is beyond managing, the next best thing will be to extract yourself from the environment completely. Set SMART goals Some of the stress we compound from work are as a result of the overwhelm of having a lot of things on our table and too little time to do those things. Many employees, in the bid to feel productive, set surmounting goals for themselves, only for these goals to end up surmounting them. Take a step back and assess what tasks are most important and what can wait. Set realistic goals for yourself and prioritize your workload accordingly. Remember, pace your frogs and eat the ones that matter first. When setting goals, it's important to make them smart. They must be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timebound. This helps to avoid feeling overwhelmed and can make it easier to see progress. Prioritize your workload based on what is most important and urgent, and delegate tasks when appropriate, and eliminate any one that is of no consequence. Learn time management Lack of proper time management also contributes to workplace stress. Always plan your day ahead. It helps you get ahead of the day and reduce looming stress. Practice working with to-do lists and schedules, and stick to them as best you can. Set specific times for checking emails, taking breaks, and completing tasks. By managing your time effectively, you can reduce your stress levels and increase your productivity. It doesn’t sound like popular knowledge, but studies have shown that one way to practice good time management is to avoid multitasking. Do one task at a time. Multitasking can significantly reduce your productivity and also increase stress levels. It can also be helpful to break larger tasks into smaller, more manageable pieces, and to take breaks when needed. Practice relaxation techniques You can use relaxation techniques to manage workplace stress. Intentionally pace your breaths, pay attention to how you breathe, you can take some minutes to meditate when you begin to feel stress levels rising, and you can even perform some exercise. These are just a few examples. Find a technique that works for you and incorporate it into your daily routine. Seek for support Having conversations with a trusted coworker, a friend, or even a family member about your stress at work can help you feel less alone and more supported. It is important to recognize when you need help and support from others. Don’t keep your stress to yourself, as it will do more harm to you than good. If you need to, speak to your line manager about what you are going through, and it might be decided that you need some work to be taken off your hands, or you need support with what you are already doing. When the stress is more than you can bear, you might need to seek a mental health professional for additional support and guidance. Take care of your physical health Finally, eat when you should, and eat good food. Rest when you know you should and stop depriving yourself of sleep when you should be in bed. Eating well, sleeping enough, and exercising regularly can all help reduce stress levels. Using these techniques to manage your stress will not yield any results if you are not disciplined enough to know that you need help, or you are in denial about stress. Don’t continue to take on things you know will cause you to feel overwhelmed. It’s okay to say no to more tasks when you know you have enough on your plate already. Remember, performing tasks one at a time, honesty with yourself and with people around you will go a long way eliminating or at the very least, minimizing the stress you already face at work. 
