The holiday season is upon us.  So is a challenging global economy.  Makes for an interestingly stressful addition to the workplace, doesn’t it?  Perhaps you’re getting more requests from the employees for help in this area, or maybe you yourself are in need of some stress relievers in the workplace.  Either way, it’s nice to have some fresh stress-relieving ideas.  Of course not all stressful situations can be cleaned up with a quick fix, but sometimes the necessary changes are easier than we thought.  Here are a few simple suggestions to pass on, or to use yourself:

Workspace Makeover:  Aesthetics play a huge role in how we feel.  I’m not talking about ripping apart the office and hiring an interior designer, but taking a good look at your personal workspace is a good place to begin.  If things aren’t organized and comfortable, you’re stressed before you even start.  Add something of home to your work area if possible.  Our jobs are, after all, our homes away from home, so adding a bit of your own personality to the area will make you more content in being there.  It may take a few hours of precious time to get things back where they should be, but the time – and stress – saved in the long run is invaluable.

Take a Break:  Whether your work location is in an industrial park or a high rise, getting away from your surroundings for short breaks is vital.  Set up a routine to spend the second half of your lunch walking outside if possible, or within the building on bad weather days.  The walk and fresh air will clear your head, stretch your muscles, and give you fresh perspective.  Take a friend or go it on your own!  But either way, make a schedule and stick to it.  You’ll quickly look forward to that getaway.

Stay Healthy:  The advice almost seems too simple.  Drink lots of water, get a good 8 hours sleep a night, eat healthy foods… but those simple bits of wisdom can go a long way, especially when stuck in a stressful situation you otherwise have very little control over.  Working after a full night’s rest, for instance, will get you far when you have stressful meetings to attend or a difficult coworker to deal with in the morning.

Keep a Work Journal:  That’s right, let it all out.  Vent, rant, complain, even gossip.  It’s better to have it out in a journal than to your coworkers.  A journal won’t tell on you later, won’t hold back a raise or deny you that promotion.  One sage word of advice, however:  Don’t keep your work journal at work.  I had a coworker who vented her frustrations about our difficult boss.  The journal was left at her desk, where the difficult boss found and read it.  Up to that point, the journal had been a huge stress reliever; but getting fired for keeping the journal wasn’t.  

Reevaluate Your Job:   If the stress is simply unbearable and more than just a usual bump in the road, it may be time to take stock of the situation and decide whether or not this is the place for you.  If, through careful self-reflection and sincere efforts to improve the situation, the job is taking away from your home life, your health, and/or your overall satisfaction in life, it may be time to look for a fresh start.  Think it over through some vacation time if possible, and try and make any major life changes a well thought-out decision.  

Sometimes job stresses are simple fixes, like reorganizing your surroundings.  Other times they’re deeper and more difficult, requiring heroic efforts to keep your head above the water.  Either way, it’s good to start by adjusting what you can first, then deciding how to handle the seriously tough stuff.  Taking things one step at a time makes reducing stress in the workplace a bit easier to take on.