Lifehacker.com Editor: 10 Tips to avoid stress

(from) engin Erdogan

How to avoid stress? For many of us work - an essential part of life and it can be a source of negative emotions and feelings of hopelessness. Perhaps your job is not so bad, but you always want to make it even better. Below I have listed 10 tips and rules that will help you avoid the stress of work.

10. Do not eat at the computer.

Equipment and food - are incompatible! Surely you have something spilled on the keyboard. Nevertheless, most of us persist in there behind the computer without thinking about the consequences. If you have a lot of work and it is not possible to postpone, at least choose some snacks, you'll less blurring technique. Of course you still something spilled, but the risk is minimal.

9. Use your vacation effectively.

With today's busy schedule, we did not dare to take a vacation. Besides, to go on a vacation, you need to plan how you will spend it, and it is postponed again until later to thoughts that can be somehow later... But you can spend a great holiday and a good rest, if everything is correct You can plan.

8. Curb negative emotions.

Maybe you hate your job, and every one in his office. Try to think less about it. The more you focus on what you do not like it, the more it will depress you. Eventually you will become the epicenter of that distributes negative emotions. Try to focus on the positive. Eventually, you may want to quit, but positive emotions will allow you to easily transfer the last few months on the job. Negative emotions are unavoidable, but if you make a big deal, then it is only to harm you.

7. Desk, behind which you can stand.

Known time manager Gina Trapani explained why she decided to work standing up, basically it boils down to is that so burns more calories and improves posture. And do not think that such a workplace is too expensive. You can always find suitable for you at the price table.

6. Use effective communication tools.

We are surrounded by an infinite number of devices and means of communication, but it is relatively useless if you do not understand all of their options. Bad idea - always use e-mail, because it encourages long letters, and constantly need to put someone in the copy. To communicate effectively, use the optional high-speed channels, such as Twitter (or something like it) to send short messages or updates that do not require long letter. Your tablet and smartphone and you can significantly offload. You already have all of the devices and the program to work effectively, it is necessary only to understand all of their functions.

5. Ask for higher wages on time.

LinkedIn data on most wage increases occur in January, June and July. Although it is sometimes better to get other benefits. Some of you would agree to a pay cut just to have a free schedule. However, if you want to talk about the salary increase, do it exactly in these months.

4. Learn to negotiate.

Only you can achieve for themselves favorable conditions of work, if you learn to negotiate or ask about something that is important to you. Negotiating skills you will need and to communicate with colleagues, especially when the need to defend their ideas. Disputes - it's a very good idea when they are carried out correctly. So, improve their skills in this area.

3. Find a way to combine work and hobby.

You can dream to become a researcher of the deep sea and it is only trading with fish cakes. Or stuck behind the office table, but actually want to do something more creative. Regardless of how there was life, do not forget about his dream just because it is very different from your current job. Always remember what you like to do and try to combine it with your work. Some time ago I worked in customer support, and my hobby was to create a short video. One weekend I myself mounted the screen, and then showed it to a video in which employees with a sense of humor explained how the support process works and how we can optimize it. After a few days in office hallway caught my colleague from the marketing department and asked if I could do this kind of videos for our customers, and now I do it every month. And for the holidays, we even made a musical.
Long ago I worked in the service of sending letters and began to draw pictures on the envelopes. In the end we started phoning people who liked these pictures, and then I was offered to do design work. Every time I bring something, what I like to do in my job, even though she had not demanded, it became part of my job responsibilities. Do not leave your work or what you are burning, the house just because your job does not require it. Try somehow to combine your hobby and your work, and perhaps your hobby becomes a part of your daily work.

2. Eat breakfast full.

I do not understand why this happens, but I'm willing to bet that the majority of people working 40 or more hours per week to ignore useful balanced breakfast. Despite the known fact that the breakfast - the most important meal, it is often overlooked. So many in such a hurry this morning that the only time to seize on the move energy bar or coffee and find it sufficient. All in all, it is necessary to stand for about 20 minutes early and be prepared for something more useful. For example, egg whites, beans or vegetables - a great start to the day. If you are free from caffeine addiction, but still feel very tired in the afternoon, it's because of the wrong breakfast. If you still neglect breakfast (or eat something nasty), try a week to eat differently and you will notice that your energy is enough for the whole day.

1. Set boundaries and find a balance between work and personal life.

Perhaps you've watched videos of Nigel Marsh, in which he says that in order to achieve a balance between work and personal life, it is necessary to start with small changes, rather than a huge. Despite the fact that many of us would prefer to have a short working week and never take work home - it is not always possible. If you devote some time the little things that make you happy or are important to you, even if they do not take up the bulk of your time, then you should be able to feel the balance in their life. This does not mean that you have to deal with them as soon as you feel the need. Setting boundaries - that's what is most important to maintain a balance between work and personal life. For example, I have a rule - never work on Saturdays. If I have to, and do some work on the weekend, I do it on a Sunday afternoon. I put all aware of this and, of course, someone is annoying. But I feel happy when I see free time with my friends, so I always leave a window in his schedule to meet with them several times a week. And I do not allow workers to break the cases during these meetings. Now I have a very flexible schedule, but it was not always. You must decide what is important and to give it the time for you. These are just two examples, and they may be suitable for you or not. You have to determine for themselves the strategy of behavior. But at the same time keep in mind that if you do not set boundaries, you will always be at the mercy of their employers, and this is not conducive to health.