Tips on a Stress-Free Office

Everyone has stress in their lives, and one of the leading causes of stress in the United States is work stress. Like it or not, the workplace plays a major role in people's lives and stress comes with the territory. However, stress doesn't have to rule your life. There are plenty of ways to cut down on how much stress you feel at the office.

Know Your Stressors

• One of the most important factors in ditching stress at the office is knowing what's causing your stress. In their book "Creating a Stress-free Office," Simon Priest and Jim Welch suggest what they call the "KARMA" approach. The first two steps involve knowledge. You can't prevent stress if you don't know what's causing it, so examine your workplace and look for triggers. Any time something makes you feel stressed, take note of it for later.

  The second step of the "KARMA" approach is awareness. It is possible to be stressed and not know it. The more aware you are of how you feel, the easier it will be to find a solution to what's stressing you.

  Part of awareness about the stress you're feeling is recognizing the symptoms of stress. Common symptoms of stress are wide-ranging and include fatigue, headaches, nausea, lack of concentration, anxiety, and even increased aggression, according to the University of California at Berkeley's employee tips. If you continually experience any of these symptoms at the office, it's very likely stress is causing them.

Your Activities

• Start by changing your activities. Make a list of everything you'd like to change about your workplace . Start small and check things off as you go.

  Lists are also wonderful for workers who have an inbox that never seems to empty. Prioritize your list, starting with things you need to do right now and things you need to do today.

  Voice your opinion in more staff meetings. Your boss can't do anything about the stress if he doesn't know anything about it. You can help things run more smoothly at work by putting in your two cents.

  There may also be more training or workshops available to teach you how to perform your job tasks more effectively. If small changes in your activities don't have any effect on your stress level, look into other jobs. It may be that the position you have isn't a good match for you.

Your Surroundings

• In addition to small changes in your work activities, some minor changes in your surroundings will also help you feel less stressed. In her article for "Microsoft Home" Magazine, Cheryl Embrett recommends that you cut out the clutter. Keep your workspace clean and have a place for everything. Put things away when you're finished using them.

  Plants also have a calming effect. If you don't have a window with greenery in sight, buy a potted plant or two for your desk. If you love colorful flowers, pick a plant which blooms beautifully.

  The color of your surroundings can also make you feel stressed. If so, choose muted, neutral tones like taupe.