5 Ways to reduce stress at work

One of the biggest issues when it comes to employee wellbeing is stress in the workplace. A simple google search yields thousands of blogs or websites that offer creative or innovative ways to re-design the layout of your office or new events ideas to bolster morale. But the truth of the matter is where there is work, there is always going to be stress.

As a business owner, it’s unrealistic to think that stress can be completely eliminated, but there are a number of strategies to reduce stress levels in the workplace. There’s an endless amount of negative side effects of stress, from decreased immune systems to increased risk for heart diseases. For these reasons, it is important for business owners to consider how they can reduce stress for their employees.

In this article, we are going to cover give strategies for reducing stress at work. From manager expectations and communication with employees to healthy recommendations for promoting mental well-being, we hope that this article gives you some ideas about how to manage stress in your office.

• Be Open – an effect and cause of stress is the tension that comes with workplace conflicts. Instead of pretending that the conflict or stress does not exist, it’s important to address the problem and put it out in the open. By being honest and open, problems can be addressed and solved. Openness is important when it comes to all communication with employees, but the open performance appraisals and evaluation discussions are especially important.

• Clear Communication – another strategy to reducing stress at work is to always maintain clear communication to establish and negotiate expectations. Workplace stress is amplified if there is doubt or confusion involved, being clear about expectations is crucial. Business owners should be clear about rules, task requirements, deadlines, workplace procedures, cultural norms, and any other expectation for their employees.

• Encourage Healthy Lifestyles – stress doesn’t just come from work. Stress starts at home, and one way to reduce stress is by living a healthy lifestyle to begin with. By encouraging your employees to eat healthy, exercise, and sleep right, they will reduce the potential for stress in the first place.

• Work-Life Balance – work can often get in the way of the rest of our lives. Especially when it comes to stress, demands and pressures from work often follow us home, which can impact our lifestyle and even damage our relationships. It is important for employees to separate work and home life. Business owners can encourage employees to leave the work in the office and leave their families at home. Establishing boundaries, like setting clear hours for phone calls or email, can help reduce stress.

• Promote Relaxation – an effective way of dealing with stress is learning techniques for relaxation. By encouraging your employees to practice relaxation at home and in the workplace, they can pick up techniques to tackle stress head-on. Even including a few minutes in the work day to allow employees he chance to meditate, breathe deeply, or perform any other meditation techniques they enjoy, you can make the workplace a better place for everybody.

This article was written by SMB Compass. SMB Compass specializes in business loans.