10 Strategies to Decrease Workplace Stress & Reignite Your Passion!

Have you done something for you lately?  If you answered "no" to thatquestion, you're not alone.  A more important question to ask yourselfis why not?  Having worked in the social service industry for the past15+ years (I don't want to age myself too much!), I've witnesses manychanges. The most striking of these changes has been the creative"outside the box" thinking of agencies committed to meeting the needsof their customers despite shrinking resources.  This has also meantthe donning of many new hats or responsibilities by staff thattraditionally had very specific roles and responsibilities.  Stress onthe job is real, and it's on the rise.  What can you do about it?The majority of you entered this field because of your genuine desireto help your customers move forward and advance in their careers oreducation.  What tends to happen during times of limited resources isa shift from client centered services to a focus on performanceoutcomes, which are crucial to continued funding.  If the balance isdisrupted, it is easy to lose sight of the passion that brought youhere.  Eventually, you begin to feel your energy level drop, andburnout isn't far behind, especially when where in a climate wherelayoffs have become commonplace.The following are 10 strategies (we've added four new ones!) that willhelp you regain your work life balance and reignite your passion!1. Take Charge.  In order to feel more in control, especially duringtimes of change, arrange to meet with your supervisor at leastquarterly to talk about your performance and your job. Take thisopportunity to clarify your strengths, weaknesses, and any areas youcan develop or improve on, including discussing any sources ofconcern.  This additional interaction may help solidify your "place"in the organization since you've actively sought out input andfeedback and you've shown your willingness to continuously improve.2. Unplug!  If you carry a pager or cell phone for work, turn it offonce you leave the office.   Most employers do not expect you to beavailable 24/7 unless it's in your job description.  Set boundariesand stick to them.  You need and deserve the down time.3. Read it Later.  Avoid checking work-related e-mail throughout theday.  Recently, I've gone as far as designating certain times duringthe day when I check email and first thing in the morning is not oneof them.  Email can become a great excuse not to do anything else,especially when it's arriving in our inbox all day long!  Set a timeto check it, and stick to it.  Also avoid checking work-related emailsat home.  I'm pretty sure a response at 11:30pm isn't necessary.  Itcan wait until the morning.  We all know it's easy to get pulled intothe email whirlwind.  Self and family time are important!4. Simplify.  Instead of packing your day full of tasks andactivities, determine what needs to be done, what can wait, and whatcan be eliminated all together.  Update your task list every day.  Acolleague of mine recently shared her strategy for getting tasks done.She makes a new list of seven priorities every day and completes whatshe can on the list.  She makes a new list the following day and onlycarries over the tasks she chooses.  For things you must complete,determine how long each will take and assign a time.  It will be lessoverwhelming if you know how long each task will take to complete.5. Calendar It!  If it's not on your calendar, it's not something youshould be doing.  That's a novel thought, but a very effective way towork.  After you've completed your task list, schedule time to work oneach item.  You can "chunk" similar items in blocks of 30-60 minutesand add more time as needed.  You'll know right away if you can addany additional tasks or responsibilities just by consulting yourcalendar.6. Time it.  Try working in blocks of approximately 30 minutes pertask and then taking a short break. I actually use a timer, which isset at 27 minutes.  During that time, I stay completely focused on atask and don't allow interruptions.  When I'm on a "roll," I justreset the time for another 27 minutes and keep working. This allows mean opportunity to re-energize myself without becoming restless (orbored!) with a particular task. It really works.7. Say NO.  Learn to say NO or not right now to items that arenot a necessary part of your job.  If saying no isn't an option, besure to let the person know who assigned you the task how long it willtake to complete and when you will be able to fit it into yourschedule.  Do not promise anything you can't deliver on - this willcreate more stress!  This is why it's so important to block out yourtime on a calendar and stick to it.  If time is limited, do the bestjob possible.  Sometimes it doesn't have to be perfect to still be ajob well done (yes, I'm talking to all you perfectionists out there).8. Take a Break.  Throughout the day, even if you're not timingyourself, take a few minutes to clear your mind, especially if you'refeeling overwhelmed.  Don't forget to take your lunch break.  Makesure you actually use it to do something for yourself, not to do morework.  Take a walk, exercise, do some type of activity that removesyou physically and mentally from work and don't feel guilty.  Stick toit, and do it now - right now!9. Smile!  Smiling is actually a great stress relieving technique.When you're walking around the office, give everyone your best"cheesy" grin.  You know the one (I'm smiling right now thinking aboutit :)).  This will accomplish a few things - people will smile back,making you feel good AND those that know you, will wonder what you'resmiling about!  Have fun with it and make it easy on yourself.  Ittakes a lot more effort (and energy) to frown and look angry, right?10. Relax.  Plan a vacation at least once a year, preferablytwice!  Having 45 days of vacation on the books isn't something to beproud of.  Use it!   If you can't afford to go away, use the time todo some things around the house - read a book, paint a room, or visita local museum.  The possibilities are endless.  Force yourself to doit.  You'll be glad that you did.