5 Tips to Help You De-stress and Bring Happiness During the Workday

"1. Set priorities. Trying to do too much makes you less productive and can stress you out. It can even lead to job burnout — a specific type of work stress.

Try this: Experiment to find the best way to organize all the tasks you need to do. Try organizing apps. Or make a color-coded list in a notebook. Be realistic about what you can accomplish. And don’t feel bad if the items that are lower on your list get bumped to tomorrow.

2. Take control. Even with a high-stress job, you can gain some control with “job crafting.” That means finding a way to adjust your job to match your talents and the way you work best.

Try this: Talk to your boss about making some small changes. Maybe you can:

• Ask if you can work from home a few days a week.
• See if you can shift your hours to fit the times of day when you have more energy.
• Take on new tasks that fit your skills. Pass other tasks to somebody else.

3. Find healthy ways to de-stress. Almost everyone has trouble dealing with stress at work. After a tough day, it may seem easy to soothe yourself with junk food or a glass of wine. But this can bring on poor mental and physical health in the long run.

Try this: Healthy ways to deal with stress look different for everybody. Find the routine that brings you joy, whether it’s going outside each day, cuddling your child or your dog, or spending a few minutes alone to get ready for the day ahead. Find what works for you and give yourself permission to do them.

4. Focus on the positive. Negative thoughts can be bad for your health. Too much negative thinking can lead to regular stress. That can put you at higher risk for some health issues. Pay attention if you’re having thoughts like I can never finish this or My boss is a monster.

Try this: Write down your negative thought on an index card. For example, I’m not good at writing reports. Then flip the card over and replace that negative thought with a positive one. You might write: My boss wants me to do this because she likes my work, or Each time I do this, it gets a little easier.

5. Get the help you need. Feeling bad every day? You might need to talk through your problems. Check your policy to learn about your mental health benefits."

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✨Takeaway: Feeling happy at work can lead to better mental health and productivity. Drinking plenty of water, exercising, getting enough sleep, and finding joy in everyday routines can help to de-stress.

✨Reflection: What helps you de-stress from work?

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