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The workplace of the 21st century is a valid source of assorted stressors. In between deadlines, performance reviews, sales target, appraisals, meetings, etc., the average corporate worker is taxed to a breaking point.
But you don’t have to lose it.
You can maintain your sanity and still remain productive at your job with the strategies I’ll be showing you. And once you put them into action, these tips will not only keep you sane, they’ll also make you happier and therefore more likely to succeed.
1. Find Your Purpose at Work
Numerous researches suggest that about two-thirds of workers feel demotivated, unappreciated, and totally discontented. They merely go through the motions.
But you don’t have to tow that path.
You may feel your job sucks. And rightly so. But even if you can’t control what hand is dealt to you, you have the option of choosing to see it differently. To choose a different approach to your job that will motivate and drive you.
The idea is to find your compelling reason why you should be doing what you are doing. This purpose might be to save up enough money to quit your current job and start your dream business. Or to achieve your long-term career aspirations. Or even to gain enough experience to change careers or simply look for a better job. Whatever your purpose, it has to be captivating enough to propel you.
The benefits of putting meaning to your work at the office are tremendous. People with a strong purpose to what they do tend to be more focused, motivated and energetic. At the same time, they have less anxiety and stress, are more engaged and less susceptible to distractions.
When you discover your purpose as an employee, you’ll have a higher sense of satisfaction, reduced stress, and noticeably improved performance on the job.
2. Work Only During Work Hours
Working long hours has become a sort of status symbol in corporate America. Alongside luxury vacation locations and expensive gym membership, many people brag about how long they stay at the office. They believe that skipping breaks during the day and working up to 11 hours is a show of their commitment and passion for the job. However, no matter how ideal they make it sound, the culture of spending all your waking hours at work is terrible for your mental health.
The desire to succeed at all cost may be the reason for sacrificing all your time to your job. But it comes at a high cost. When you don’t make out times for other things in your life, your happiness and overall quality of life will plummet.
Every human being needs time to be with loved ones and engage in activities they enjoy. Therefore, leave the office once it’s time. And this also applies to lunch breaks. A worker that has a life outside the job is often happier and therefore more productive.
3. Manage Your Meetings
On average, workers in the US spend about 62 hours in meetings every month. And middle managers spend as much as 35% of their time attending meetings. A lot of these meetings are unnecessary, and the feeling of having wasted time can add to your stress.
Again, disagreements between team members and contentious issues at meetings can cause considerable stress. However, as an employee, you may not be in a position to choose which meetings to attend or not. But you can manage your meetings to make them less stressful and more productive.
Make adequate preparations before going in for a meeting and put together all the resources you may need. These include reports, presentation slides, project updates, etc. Feeling prepared before a meeting will help you feel calm and relaxed.
You should be present at least five minutes before the start of the meeting. Running late will put you off balance and stressed out. You can use this time to gather your thoughts and mentally prepare for the meeting.
Lastly, address issues calmly in the meeting and avoid hostile arguments and finger-pointing.
4. Off Work Meditation and Exercise
Obesity and anxiety are two of the major health hazards for office workers. Luckily, you can easily bust stress and lose weight when you incorporate meditation and exercise into your daily routine.
Meditating for 20 minutes each day effectively improves your sense of well-being, focuses your mind, and improves your overall health. This will make you more productive at work and less stressed.
Consider joining an exercise class or a gym membership. Aside from keeping your body fit and resilient, exercise also has a calming effect on the mind. Exercising and meditating in the company of others can be fun and is a great way to network off the job.
Conclusion
These four tips though simple can help you stay positive and engaged at work. You’ll bring on your A-game each time and will live a more rewarding and ultimately successful life.
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