Staying Calm In Stressful Work Situations

Everyone deals with stress at work from time to time. How you deal with that stress will determine whether you sink or swim. Staying calm under pressure is somewhat of a skill, but if you don’t have it yet – it is something that you can learn with time and patience.

Take a look at the following tips to help you stay calm in stressful work situations.

Count to ten

While you might not like getting told to count to ten when you’re angry or worked up, it is a piece of classic advice that does actually work. Whenever you’re feeling overwhelmed, simply take a deep breath and count to ten. Ten seconds may not seem like a long time, but it’s enough for you to gather your thoughts together and even dispel any initial anger you might have had. Whenever possible, take some time before you react to a situation as taking some time to consider your options could lead you to the best outcome.

Stay positive

It’s easy to let a stressful situation get the better of you, but maintaining a positive attitude can help you get through it. One of the ways in which mentally strong people handle stress is to surround themselves with positive people. Talk to someone who can be your cheerleader or coach you through a tough situation – it can be a friend, family member or a colleague. Try not to focus on the negatives and instead see the positive side of every situation.

Meditate

Meditation has many benefits, and you’d be surprised at the difference it could make to your stress levels. A course in how to master the mind could cover everything from meditation techniques to how to be more zen – things that are great for helping you to channel your stress elsewhere. It’s worth giving it a try to see if it could benefit your stress levels and help you take a calmer approach to challenges at work.

Cut down the caffeine

You might think that caffeine is the thing that will keep you focused in a stressful situation, but it could actually do the opposite. Caffeine could alter your attitude and behavior, making it harder to make reasonable decisions during challenging times. Instead of relying on caffeine to keep you alert, try going for a walk around the block and drinking plenty of water instead.

Stress at work may be a part of your job, but you don’t have to let it control you. Stress often comes from a fear of failure, but even career mistakes can be turned into opportunities. Find ways to deal with your stress that will help you navigate your way through tough situations. It’s surprising how little things like taking a deep breath or going for a walk can change your attitude and make you feel more empowered to handle yourself. Learning to deal with stressful situations comes with practice, but there are things you can do to help make it easier for you to manage them.