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 That Are Hurting Your Resume

5. Your High School Education - Unless high school was as far as you went, skip mentioning it and list your college coursework. Listing your high school  when you have a college education is obvious fluff. You might as well list your Jr. high and elementary while you're at it.

4. Family / Friend References - Some employers ask for these kinds of references, but it's best to stick to professional contact. Listing your uncle Bob or cousin Sue looks sloppy with no effort behind it. There is no mystery what your family members will say about you.

3. Resume In First Person - Avoid using "I" or "Me" when creating a resume. The interviewer could care less about you personally, they only need to know if you'd be a good fit for the position. You need to make sure your describing the person that you are. Your accomplishments are the star of the show, not you.

2. Having No Connection To The Job Your Applying For - If you are going from a job say at a coffee shop to a customer service call center job, what would you want to stand out? How about the fact you answered the phone every once in a while? If you're not molding your resume to the jobs you are applying for, you'll never get the job.

1. Formatting / Font - I can't stress enough how important it is to keep a resume simple. A default font is the only acceptable option. I've actually had people give me resumes in cartoon font, robotic/futuristic font, graffiti font, and movie title fonts. I've came across resumes that look like they've been Photoshopped, printed on the finest of paper, from the finest of trees, with the most beautiful pieces of art as the backdrop. 

Unfortunately for you all the time spent on your project has earned you an early trash can visit. Trying to switch up the basic ingredients to a resume just to be "unique", is not productive at all. The only thing it shows me is you have too much time on your hands. The last thing I need is to hire someone who is going to spend more time decorating their desk than doing their job.  

5 Things That Can Blow Your Interview

5. Being Too Confident -  Naturally you would think the more confident you are the more likely you'll get the job, right? Wrong. When I interview people, I look for nervousness in them. Why? Because it shows a sense of honesty, and honest people are who I want working for me. 

4. Gum Chewing - Like standing in front of the judge in court, talking on the telephone, or making a speech, chewing gum in an interview is RUDE. Nobody wants to hear you smacking your chops while talking, popping your sentences, or watch you twirl the gum around your index. People actually do show up to interviews and do this. Maybe they forget? Whatever the case may be, make sure you spit yours out before you sit down. 

3. Wearing Too Much Cologne or Perfume - Do we really have to go into detail about this one? What are you trying to cover up? You smelling like a french whore is not going to get you hired any faster. Just make sure you shower, soap and water will be just fine.

2. Having Trouble With Eye Contact - Never trust someone who can't look you in your eyes. If you're looking at the floor while talking to me, I'm going to think you have something to hide. Having little to no eye contact makes you look suspicious or guilty, and eventually I'm going to look at your resume to be as honest as you.

1. Sit Up Straight - Having correct posture is a must in any situation. Sitting like you have a spine full of jelly isn't going to make me feel confident enough to choose you to work for me. You might as well kick your feet up on the desk while your at it. Stand, walk and sit up straight. If you're too lazy to sit up straight, then you're too lazy to work for me.

Now smiling is another thing I didn't mention, but some people don't have great teeth. Smiling with your lips is always an option, just don't seem like your headed to the electric chair. You're at a job interview! You've made it this far, be a little excited!