How to Avoid Stress at Work this Christmas

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Only a few weeks to go before the Christmas break, and stress levels are rising everywhere, from work to the home. It seems that there is not enough time to do everything before we pack up for the summer break. To minimize the stress at work try a few of these tips.

• Apply time management techniques. List the tasks you need to do by the end of the year. This will help to reduce "brain chatter" and to focus on what actually needs to be done.
  From your list, set your priorities by coding your 'To Dos' with 1,2 and 3 - '1' as your top priority. Concentrate on the '1' ‘s first, you may need to break these down into smaller tasks if they are just too big a project. These tasks can be then transferred to a daily, realistic, 'To Do' list.
  
• Handle everything only once. Each piece of paper that comes in contact with your hand should only be handled once. Bin it or file it immediately don’t let them pile on your desk as clutter.
  
• Set realistic achievements. Don’t be a perfectionist if you do not have time. Set a standard for doing things that is acceptable to you. Do not compare yourself to others.
  
• Set aside non-disturbance periods. If you are often disturbed by people calling, stopping by for a chat, create a system where you can set blocks of time apart where you don’t want to be disturbed. Put a notice up, or a flag which means “do not disturb unless urgent”. Explain what and why you are doing this to your work colleagues. Just make sure you do not disturb your own peace. Use the time effectively to get through the tasks you want to complete.
  
• Practice tolerance. If you are stressed the chances are the people around you are too.
  
• Stop procrastinating. The inability to make a decision and get started adds considerable pressure to our daily life. Use your Task list and get on with something on it now, don’t be daunted by the length of the list think of each task as a small piece of a larger puzzle. You don’t get anywhere if you never pick a piece up.
  
• Learn to say 'no' politely. If you are the kind of person that always seems to be taking on extra commitments you need to learn to say no effectively. If you are tempted to say yes look back at your task list and see if you can realistically fit it in. Get assertive.
  
• Take a short breaks and relax. Don’t try to work every minute of the day. Your brain will just shut down and move slower. Give it and yourself a break to re-energize. Stand up and stretch, or close your eyes and take few deep breaths. Make sure you schedule them into your day and give them a high priority.
  
• Eat and sleep well. Ensure you get enough sleep and eat healthily.

For more information about Time Management Techniques or Assertive Communication with Nexus Partners', email us or call on 0800 4 LEADERS.