Stress at work is becoming increasingly widespread. But we realize that this has an impact on our health and our personal lives. So how can we free ourselves from this stress? Here’s how to feel better at work.

1 – Understand your colleagues’ needs

Relationships with others are a source of stress, especially at work. After all, we don’t have time for sentiment, and kindness seems to have deserted the working world.

In other words, it’s quite possible that people are stressing you out at work.

Either because of their mood swings, or because they never seem to be satisfied with your work. Reproaches fly and your stress levels soar.

So what can you do about it?

I’ve experienced this at work. In fact, I think it happens to everyone, every day.

Because even at work, we’re still human beings, no matter how much we’d like to turn ourselves into high-performance, efficient machines.

And because we’re human beings, we have needs, and when those needs aren’t met, we grumble, get angry and blame others. So we blame, and our mood keeps changing.

If you experience this kind of stress at work, take some time to think about the needs behind the remarks of the people who are stressing you out.

Personally, when I was a veterinary assistant, one of the vets yelled at me regularly and I thought, we can’t go on like this. So I thought about it, looked back at all the times when he’d exploded, and realized what my vet needed.

He was someone who asked a lot of himself and did a lot for the clinic, and he needed to know that I was doing my best too. Which I was, but he couldn’t see it.

In fact, when he asked me for something, but I was busy, I answered evasively and that didn’t satisfy his need.

And when I realized that, I started to stop and look him in the eye and say: There, I’m at my best, I’m doing what you asked me to do next.

And everything changed. Our relationship changed, my stress at work eased.

By the way, when I left that clinic, the vet wrote a great letter of recommendation about me.

So, look for the need in others. It’s worth it.

2 – Understand your own needs

Sometimes we are our own source of stress. In fact, everything hits us, we quickly lose patience and become extremely stressed.

What do you need at work?

Chances are you have no idea, and that’s normal. Because we weren’t taught to think in terms of needs, but rather in terms of goals.

And, by the way, we put a lot of stress into our work to achieve our goals.

That’s why I invite you to come back to yourself and your needs.

To do this, take a look at yourself: what stresses you most at work? When do you feel your stress peaks?

Then analyze why: what’s behind your stress, and what do you need at those times?

In fact, you’ll probably be told that stress at work is normal, that stress shows how important your job is, that you’re an important person at work.

But if you’re reading this article, it’s because you realize that no, you don’t want any more stress at work. And it’s normal, it’s human to want that.

So dare to meet your needs and dare to satisfy them.

Because you’re not a DOING machine, you’re a human BEING.

3 – Get organized to avoid stress at work

We often feel a pang of stress when we realize that there’s too little time left to do something, or that certain files have piled up and suddenly the workload seems enormous.

First of all, breathe, it’s normal. It happens to everyone, every day.

In fact, have you noticed how much time and energy we waste beating ourselves up about things, harboring negative thoughts and stress at work, instead of simply TAKING ACTION?

Indeed, take action. Start somewhere. Move forward, do something.

Then, take some time to get organized.

Observe yourself. When do you feel overwhelmed? In what areas? What can you do to organize yourself better in these moments and areas?

Take action. Try it out. Find the way that suits you best.

In fact, when you’re suffering from stress at work, it’s essential not to try to adapt to the situation, to make do. Instead, find solutions, because you have the right and the ability to be happy at work.

Find out more:

I invite you to read these 2 complementary articles:

Discover How to calm your stress? Live a more peaceful life
Discover How to reduce stress: 3 writing exercises to calm your nerves

In addition, I recommend this inspiring book on the subject:

Managing Stress In The Workplace: How To Get Rid Of Stress At Work And Live A Longer Life by Joe Martin

This book addresses the reasons behind why stress at work affects the human spirit, and how to deal with it. It highlights methods that help cultivate a passion for work by overcoming obstacles and barriers.
A very useful book, full of knowledge and experience that will help anyone cope with varying degrees of stress. I recommend this book. Short and to the point to anyone who has difficulty managing stress.

Thank you very much for reading this article.

If you liked it, let me know in the comments.

Take care of yourself.