5 Working Ways To Deal With Work Related Stress

Is stress getting to you at work? Are you losing sleep? Your appetite? Your sex drive? Or maybe your hair? Then it might be time to explore your options in dealing with it. 

5.  Schedule Time Off -  Sometimes we need time away from something to prevent mental illness. What was that you say? There is a light at the end of the tunnel? The truth is you deserve time away, you've accumulated that PTO (if you're a permanent employee of course), and now you should reap what benefits you've sown. A little road trip? A cruise? An out of state flight? or maybe just some bum time staying inside your house without shaving? 

For the love of god stop calling off sick would you? Everyone knows you hate your job. In fact, the boss is already working on your replacement. Most people would agree that calling off sick is a scary thing to do. To this day I have employees who text when they are not going to be in that day. Schedule the time off! Not only will you not feel guilty, you'll feel great about it! It will give you something to look forward to and your boss a reason to keep you off his/her radar.

4.  Uninstall Java- This is a hard one, but it could make a world of difference in stress in the workplace. Giving up coffee could make those headaches a thing of the past. Studies show caffeine can have a withdrawal effect that could render you useless when it comes to focusing in your place of employment. Caffeine gives the body a temporary fix to a permanent problem. Try waking up naturally, take your showers in the morning, and start eating breakfast daily. You know those ugly bags under your eyes? The ones that give you that disgusting tired look? That's from caffeine. 

Switch to tea or decaf coffee. If you can't give up Java then at least cut your daily intake in half. Caffeine stays in the body for 5 to 9 hours. Most peaks range from 15 minutes to 120 minutes after your first cup. Caffeine withdrawals can cause irritability, crankiness, headaches, tremors, hot flashes, itching, dry mouth and crush your ability to focus. Unless you have an IV in your arm hooked up to your local Starbucks, I would consider uninstalling Java.  

3. Changing Your Commute- Are you one of the unfortunate souls who commute to work everyday? Have you gave some serious thought into public transportation? Studies show people who take public transportation have lower stress levels throughout the day then people who commute to and from work everyday. Make sense? Look into a local train or bus that runs through the city you work in, stay the night at a friend or family members house in the area a couple nights a week or look into the possibilities of carpooling. 

Imagine the snoozing and snoring you could do when you don't have to watch the road. Let someone else ride the breaks. Consider being a passenger even if its only one day a week. Take a load off and relax, you'll thank yourself later.

2. Gauge Your Sleep- Sometimes too much of a good thing is a bad thing. Did you know you can oversleep? Yes, and when you wake up you will feel awful. This one is personal for me because I changed my sleep pattern and it really helped me.

I used to sleep 8 hours a night, wake up and still feel tired. I would yawn all day, I was starting to think I was just a lazy person. Until one night, I only slept 4 hours. The next morning I woke up feeling great. Throughout the day I was alert and more focused than ever. Most importantly though, when it came to bed time, I was ready for it. My point is everyone has different requirements for sleep. Sometimes you need more, sometimes you need less. Have you ever had a night you kept waking up every hour? Your body is trying to tell you that your battery is charged. Gauge your sleep pattern - determine if its more or less sleep you need. If something isn't working, its time to try something else. 

1. Take Your Breaks- This is one of the most important, overlooked work related stress relievers of all. Most people work right through their break, especially at desk jobs. This puts a major amount of stress on your body's resources. Get up and take a walk, relieve some of that built up anxiety and tension. You are giving yourself a lot of grief by skipping your leisure. Not only is it against the law, but nobody notices you didn't take a break until you're lying on the ground complaining of chest pains. 

Stop being a hero and take a stroll outside! Get some fresh air!

 

5 Quick Things To Do Before You Quit Your Job

Everyone eventually hits a point where they consider quitting their job, it's a natural thing. Taking that leap of faith can be challenging if you don't already have another job lined up. You may have a bad relationship with a boss/co-worker, the commute is eating you alive, or you hate it and everyone can see it on your face. One of the worse things to do is to tell people you plan on quitting. This can turn into months or years of you defending yourself in all conversations about your "plan". The best thing to do is keep it to yourself until your ready to make a move. Speaking of ready, what would be the smartest way to leave a job? Shine up your shoe right before you stick it up your bosses...no, no, I'm kidding. 

Personally, I would never quit a job without another one lined up. I would strongly suggest you do the same, especially if you have a family involved. Unfortunately sometimes you have to do what you have to do. If you are serious about leaving a job without another one lined up, then this is for you. Here are 5 quick things to do before you quit your job. Consider them essential if you want to keep regrets to a minimal.

5. Have At Least 3 Months Of Income Saved - Ouch! Are you kidding me? I can't even save coupons for groceries, let alone that kind of money. Well, the average person spends 100 days unemployed when in between jobs. Having this cushion to fall back on is a must in this economy. Consider this before you consider quitting your job. 

4. Having a Plan Of Action - What do you want? Most people can't answer that question, I'm serious! If a genie asked you "What do you want?", you would freeze up and tell him you'll get back to him. Knowing what you want is a huge step in finding happiness! You can't blame your job if you were the one who applied for that position. I used to hate working customer service jobs. The call centers, the phones, the angry customers, escalations, anchored to a cubicle for 8 hours a day, all while being micro-managed by some twit. 

Once you've conquered yourself in knowing what you want, you can mold your resume to fit that position, and aim for those types of jobs.

3. Run The Well Dry - Are you leaving a job with benefits? Take advantage before you leave! Get all your doctor visits/dentist visits in while you still can. Paid time off? Sick days? Vacation? TAKE THEM! You've earned them, you deserve them. For the record, no one has been fired for taking their vacation/paid off time. If you are fired, you can always get unemployment. At my previous jobs everyone was so worried about when someone else was taking off work. When someone would return from a vacation or a couple days off, people would try to make them feel guilty. Don't allow others to stop you from being happy. You were made to have an amazing life, you can do whatever you wish! Run the well dry baby! 

2. Always Give 2 Weeks Notice - It happens to the best of us, quitting a job you end up going back to. If you can't find another job in a reasonable amount of time, consider going back. Getting on your feet and trying again is something winners do when they lose. Giving a two weeks notice will give you another way out if you find yourself in real trouble. Keep your departure as quiet and respectable as you can. If anyone ask if you've found another job, tell them you were presented an opportunity and keep it at that. Doing this will not only give you a good reference, but may open another door in the company so you won't have to leave after all. Communication is key. 

1. Register With A Job Agency - Yes, two heads are better than one. When a job agency places someone, they get paid. That's right, someone finds you a job and you don't have to pay them. Registering with a job agency is the smartest thing to do when you are out of work. Not only do they have a list of jobs ready to go, they will work with you in finding a perfect fit for you. Think about it, if you start a job they've placed you at and you end up leaving, they lose credibility with that employer. The last thing they would do is place you in something you hate. Be open with the recruiter, let them know what you are really looking for. If they offer you a job and you don't like it, kindly decline the offer. They will continue to look for you until they've found your perfect fit. 

Most agencies have different branches in different locations that work together. So if the branch you've registered with isn't giving you the results you're looking for, you can always call another branch. Having someone else help you look for a job will not only take that load off your back, but boost your confidence in finding something better. Remember, you were meant to have an amazing life! No one wants to be stuck at a job they hate. Good luck!