Almost everyone deals with daily challenges and of some kind on the job and sometimes those routine stresses can start to affect productivity.
To keep calm and carry on at work, we have to find ways to cope with stress and doubt, as study after study has shown the connection between keeping calm and high productivity. Here are a few tips on how to keep cool and stay master of your domain all day long.
The 4-7-8 breathing exercise
Our cardiovascular system plays a significant role in moving nutrients and toxins around our body. This means that breathing properly moves nutrients while also helping to clear toxins from the body.
While there are several breathing exercises out there that have been shown to lower stress levels, ‘4-7-8 method’ is one of the more popular. Developed by holistic health specialist Dr. Andrew Weil, the method involves breathing in for a count of four, holding in that breath for a count of seven and exhaling for a count of eight.
According to Weil, the method makes it possible for the respiratory system to become entirely filled with air, allowing for a lot of oxygen to enter the body and resulting in a state of physical and mental relaxation.
This technique takes very little time, doesn’t call for special equipment and can be done almost anywhere.
Resist control impulses
Often, we get stressed out by things we can’t control, like a shipment that didn’t come through on time or a favorite coworker leaving for another job. Sure it’s okay to get upset when something outside your control goes wrong, but you shouldn’t let it really get to you.
Instead, you should try to focus on the things you can control, like prioritizing your tasks based on importance. Once you realize you can put off lesser things, you stop worrying about them and gain a greater sense of control.
You should also take a flexible mentality to your job in order to better cope with the unexpected. When the unexpected happens – simply pause, gather your thoughts and move forward with a new plan if necessary.
Keep Perspective
Mentally reprimanding yourself for things you did not accomplish or things that went wrong does not help any situation. A better habit is to think about all that has gone right, and then focus on a solution. Failing fast can help you move on quickly to try new strategies.
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