If stress is intruding on you at work it can:

• Reduce your productivity (which can cause more stress as your boss and co-workers recognize you are not holding up your end of the job)
• Impact your health in both the short-term (colds, flu, headaches, stomach aches etc.)  and long-term if you don’t resolve the stress (cardiovascular disease, musculoskeletal problems, psychological disorders, etc.)
• Cause you to be less satisfied with your job
• Affect your relationship with your co-workers
• Affect your relationships with your family

The first step toward dealing with workplace stress is to identify what is causing the stress.  Once know what is causing the stress, you can then work on finding a way to resolve it. For me, one thing that causes stress is when I don’t know how to do something.  Usually it involves technology in some way, shape or form.  One trick I’ve learned is to step away from the task that is stressing me.  The simple act of walking away for a few minutes calms me down and helps me to reframe my mind.  Sometimes I have to leave it overnight.

Another trick I’ve learned is to check my “self talk.”  Usually when I’m frustrated and stressed, I have this unhealthy self ‘talk going on.  “I don’t know why this has to be so hard.”  “How come everyone else gets this and I don’t.”  “I just don’t get it.”  Recognizing the limiting self-talk and changing it to:  “I can figure this out.”  “I just know I can do this.” or “This is easy and fun.  I can find the information I need to figure it out.”  has proven over and over that I can control my emotions and my stress.

What causes you stress in your workplace?  What tips or tricks have you used to reduce the stress and strengthen the harmony in your life, family and work?