Work-related stress is an important factor in your well-being. It is not a secret that working long hours in a non-friendly environment might have a negative effect on your health and even cause depression. Bad management practices, lack of support and physical work environment are among the reasons causing work-related stress.
Excessive amounts of work-related stress can mess with your productivity, mood and emotional health. The way you deal with your stress is a key element. You can either be successful and keep it under control, or let the stress overwhelm you and dictate you what to do.
Coping with Stress
Many people fear they might lose their jobs. The downhill economic situation contributes to the widespread fear of ‘layoffs’ and ‘budget cuts.’ As a result the levels of uncertainty, fear, and stress have significantly increased since 2008. It is important to learn new ways of coping with stress to increase your productivity and confidence at work.
The better you know how to manage your stress, the more positive outcome you’ll get out of it. Keep in mind that your negative mood affects your colleagues as well. Seeing the bright side of things is an art, but if you learn how to have a positive eye on things, you will notice that your work situation isn’t that bad after all.
Make yourself feel Comfortable
The things around you have a direct impact on your emotional state. Get rid of that old poster on the wall that irritates you every day at work. Bring some colorful orchids to work and enjoy their beauty every time you feel stressed. There should be some positive décor element that would put a smile on your face; be it the picture of your child or a favorite pet.
Redecorating and changing your office space can have a direct impact on your mood. The office setup and furniture can lower or boost your productivity. In some cases you cannot change the existing ventilation system or the table arrangement. Even though studies have shown that multiple computer screens boost productivity, in some cases your employer simply cannot afford it. Nonetheless, there are some easy ways to improve your office environment by changing simple things.
Furniture
Some employers don’t invest enough money in office décor and furniture. However, it doesn’t mean that you cannot improve your work conditions. To the contrary, you can replace your chair and feel the difference.
If you spend long hours at the office and suffer from increased back pains, you need to consider changing your chair. If your employer doesn’t want to pay money for your new ergonomic chair, you should still buy it yourself. After all, the decreased back pain and proper posture would make you feel better and more confident.
Turn the Lights On
People have different preferences regarding the lighting. Some prefer working in a well-lit room, while others feel more productive in a room with little lighting. If you feel that the lighting in your office is too scarce for you, you can buy a desk lamp that will provide enough light.
Office Environment
Happy Hour Drinks with your colleagues and potluck Fridays would turn you into a team and improve your overall success rate. Everyone would agree that it is more comfortable to work in an office where people are friendly rather than hostile and silent.
Any office should have its own culture and you can become a pioneer by introducing some new office rituals. You can organize a small office Birthday party with a cake and some afternoon tea or organize a small gathering to greet a new member of the team. These simple things can make a big difference in your office. After all, new hires should feel comfortable at work, while other employees should feel valued.
Your office décor and setup can improve your productivity and decrease your stress. The wrong office layout can encourage depression and bad mood. By introducing a few simple solutions you can improve your efficiency and wellbeing.
This article was written by Kate for Acrylicize, an interior designer and consultancy agency.