Ways To Reduce Stress At Your Workplace

Are you feeling stressed out at work? You’re not alone. Around 17 million working days are lost every year globally because of ill-health caused by work stress, depression or anxiety. But don’t worry! There are ways to reduce workplace stress and improve your overall well-being. In this article, we’ll share a number of ways to reduce stress for better employee performance.

So how can we reduce stress for better employee performance?
1. Encourage Open Communication

Employees are likely to be stressed if they are unaware of what’s happening in the company. The management should keep the lines of communication open and inform employees about their responsibilities and performance expectations.
Open communication is very important in leadership and management. Effective communication is a helpful tool in workplace stress management. When communication is open and clear, small problems get resolved quickly and easily, resulting in less stress and a healthy relationship.

However, when communication is not as helpful or becomes ineffective, small problems may escalate leaving one feeling stressed out and frustrated.

2. Encourage Employees to Take Breaks
Work is a primary source of stress for many people, even those who love their jobs. Sometimes loving your job makes your experience more stressful; if you care too much about performing perfectly, you can experience burnout.
If employees are overloaded and continually sacrifice their leisure time to get work done, it is time for a company to reconsider its workload, hire more employees, or change expectations.
Employees should be encouraged to take work breaks, e.g., a short walk. Such a break helps them return to the office less stressed, focused, and productive.

A relaxing break facilitates recovery by returning your mental and physical functions to their baseline. A relaxing break can also help reset your mood, promoting positive well-being and reducing stress.

3. Bring Some Diversions into the Office
Putting employees in a high-stress situation, e.g., unreasonable deadlines or unclear expectations, can lead to fight or flight mode. Staying in this mode for too long can eventually lead to burnout.

Psychological safety in the workplace is very critical to an employee’s well-being. A company management must establish a secure work environment and incorporate stress reduction habits into employees’ daily workflows.
Some of the stress reduction measures in the office can be in the form of games. A team that plays together works better together.

There are infinite fun activities management can bring to reduce workplace stress, whether permanent fixtures or for a special occasion. Here are a few ideas:

• Ping pong table
• Dartboard
• Basketball hoop
• Video games
• Board games
• Dog-friendly Office

4. Consider Flexible Work Schedules
Heavy workloads, long hours, job insecurity, and conflicts with bosses or co-workers are some of the causes of work-related stress.

For a business to prosper there must be dedicated, motivated, and productive workers. Employees feeling stressed, unsupported, or overworked can impact their physical and mental health.
There should be a balance between time spent with family and time spent at work since, in cases where there is no flexible work schedule; employees’ mental health is largely affected.

A flexible work schedule can benefit an employee’s health and well-being since there will be a reduction in stress and anxiety levels through avoiding or managing the sources of pressure and conflict in the work environment, such as deadlines, demands, expectations, or politics.
With more control over their work schedules, employees will have more productivity and loyalty to the company. Flexible work policies also attract qualified employees hence more beneficial to the company.

When allowed to exercise flexible work options, employees can better meet their many obligations outside of work, such as pursuing job training and education, caring for family members who need them, and having the time to exercise and eat well.

5. Encourage employee growth and progression
Employees need to feel that their management provides steady growth and learning opportunities. Sometimes this means supporting internal mobility. The company’s commitment to employee growth will deepen the trust.
The management should also have a culture of recognition. Recognizing workers publicly for their hard work and contributions can decrease stress and increase feelings of belonging, leading to better employee performance.

6. Offer Counseling Services
If your employees feel the profound effects of workplace stress, their mental and physical health will likely suffer, leading to poor productivity.
Struggling with stress at your workplace? Contact us today for group or individual employee counseling sessions for your well-being.