Seniors Site

Seniors Guide to a Stress-Free Day at Work

Is your job driving you nuts already? Are there days when you feel depressed and overly tired coming home from work only to be bombarded with more tasks to accomplish at home? Do you feel hopelessly lonely and isolated? Then, you must be feeling stressed-out and unfortunately, it’s bearing down on you.

Stress is never healthy, although some say it can lead to a more productive work-pace. It can be, if applied ONLY when needed but if taken 24/7, it can affect one’s competency which in return, can bring down a team’s effort. As for seniors, stress can take its toll health-wise and it is something that all seniors must avoid since their health is at its most vulnerable.

I would like to think of stress as one that possesses a domino effect. That is, when one area of your life gave in due to stress, it will bring everything down with it. Likewise, rebuilding it can be a tedious task to take and will certainly require some time and effort in your part. The most effective way to combat this domino effect is to lessen stress, if not preventing it altogether. If somehow you feel you are already knee-deep with all the stress you are feeling right now, take baby steps to break free from it. Do it one day at a time and soon you’ll be getting your desired result. Here are some suggestions you can do for a stress-free day at work:

EARLY AT HOME: Your “work day” doesn’t really start from the minute you stepped in the office. It starts at home. Early mornings are the most hardest in one’s life, especially if you are living with someone—or many, and you are in charge for most of them. Just ask the sandwich generation! This is the time when everybody must be feeling either pressed for time or too irritated to talk. As for you, try to “isolate” yourself from all these craziness that have been going around you. Just as long as you have prepared everything you need the night before, you don’t need to contribute to the morning noise anymore.

GOING TO WORK:  Walking is a great way to start your day. It works two ways: one, you get your fair share of exercise for the day and two, you eliminate the possibility of getting stressed with the morning traffic. If work is only a short distance away from your house then walk to it, given that it is safe for you to do so. Of course, wear a sensible pair of walking shoes too!

WORK RELATIONSHIPS: Working requires many different levels of relationships. It can be boss-employee relationship, between co-workers, and the unavoidable close, personal relationships (whatever that means!). Between a boss and an employee, it is best if there are clear, reasonable expectations to serve as a guideline for both. Clear instructions are meant to be given to employees and questions must be asked to the boss, if there’s any. This way, stress could be eliminated and the work will be done efficiently.

Try to do away with conflicts involving coworkers. Just imagine how hard it can be when working in a very small world with someone you just had a bitter spat with. A brewing spat can also heighten up the stress so as much as possible, try to maintain a healthy working environment.

Close, personal relationships are generally not encouraged within a workplace. Why? Because it impairs one’s good judgment. Be it a friend or an affair, it can jeopardize a project.

YOUR OWN CUBICLE: A cluttered space clutters the mind as well. Organize your own space so you can work effectively and won’t be bothered with last minute rummaging for a missing file. Make your own space as comfortable as can be. Make sure that you don’t feel any discomfort while working in this area because you’ll be spending a lot of time in it. Make it as your own “recharging” zone. Music can calm the mind so don’t forget to listen to some once in a while.

ATTITUDE:  Do you know that most people unknowingly put a great deal of stress to their own being? It’s okay to expect great things from yourself but if something becomes too impossible to do so, try to be a little more accepting of your own limitations. It’s okay to be a little bit slower today, it’s okay not to meet today’s deadline; just because you know you did your best.

GOING HOME:  I would like to say that we must end our “working day” right at this very moment. Evenings are meant to relax us and free us from the demands we had encountered during the day. Unfortunately, this isn’t so. Take this time to prepare for the next day (remember crazy mornings?) and if possible, try to do things that will calm your mind—and your nerves too. Practice meditation techniques to help you achieve a calmer attitude.