You are not a machine, and you can’t be expected to operate at 100% every single day without being stressed. We all make mistakes, we feel overwhelmed and burnt out, and sometimes we simply can’t find the drive or the focus to be productive. What’s more, let’s not forget that coping with stress during the COVID-19 pandemic has been tough on all of us, and that we are still overcoming the challenges it brought into our daily lives. How do you handle work-related stress and productivity?
Top Tips to Handle Work-Related Stress and Increase Productivity
Between all the day-to-day chores and the stress that has accumulated over time, focusing on your work and being productive might seem like an insurmountable task at times. But that doesn’t mean that you’re powerless to fight back. You have the potential to turn things around and become more productive and satisfied in your professional life than ever before – but you need to have a concrete battle plan.
That’s why today we are taking a look at some of the best tips you can start using right now to beat work-related stress and boost your employee productivity. Here’s what you should do.
Automate Whatever You Can
Technology is one of the foundational pillars of success nowadays, whether you’re looking to achieve certain goals in your professional or personal realm. With the right tech in your hands, you can simplify, streamline, and even automate many processes at work that will save you valuable time, money, and mental energy. You will then be free to allocate these resources towards the mission-critical tasks and the objectives you need to complete daily to keep pushing your business forward.
The best part is that nowadays there is an app and a piece of software for every problem, and you simply need to figure out what kind of tech you need in your life. For example, if you’re working remotely, stop relying on email to collaborate and communicate with your team members.
Instead, opt for a robust project management tool that will give you a virtual environment you and your colleagues can work in together in real time. You can also use various tools on your desktop computer or your smartphone to create notes that you can share between devices, and you can even install apps that cater specifically to your job and its requirements. All of this will make your day-to-day at work much easier and more enjoyable.
Create and Stick to a Routine Process
A successful and productive day is rooted in a well-developed and optimized routine. If you’re just winging it at work day in and day out, pretty soon you’re going to start feeling stressed and overwhelmed by the challenges and tasks that just keep piling up. After a while, certain tasks you were supposed to complete within a workday will spill over into the next day, and then the next, creating a never-ending cycle of tasks that you won’t be able to break.
This is when people start to experience the dreaded burnout, which could cause you to start severely underperforming, and it may put your career at risk – not to mention your mental health. Don’t let yourself fall into this common trap, instead, make sure to get organized.
You need to start prioritizing your daily tasks, and create a daily schedule at the beginning of the week that will guide you through the mess. Think about ways to get your employees motivated and excited about work. This will take some trial and error, and it will also require you to organize your personal routine so that your time at work doesn’t suffer – it’s also important to allocate some time for unexpected events.
Nutrition Plays a Vital Role with both Stress and Productivity
It should go without saying that you can’t expect to be productive throughout the day or lead a stress-free life if you’re not fueling your body and mind with the right nutrients. It’s important to nurture your mental and physical well-being while you’re working by eating regularly, hydrating, and supplementing with vitamins and minerals.
You can also explore natural nootropic drinks that have plenty of vitamins, minerals, and active compounds that will supply you with a steady stream of energy throughout your workday. You might be tempted to simply grab a cup of coffee or something sweet, but sugar is not only bad for you, it will also cause the dreaded sugar crash when the energy wears off. Instead, use natural supplements and make sure to cook wholesome meals that you can take to work.
Stop Multitasking, Start Achieving
Multitasking is the killer of productivity and the bringer of stress. If you are still trying to handle numerous tasks all at once, now’s the time to break this harmful habit and start achieving better results by committing your full attention and energy to completing one task at a time. 
To increase workplace productivity, you need to learn to say no to people who are trying to break your focus in the middle of an important task, and you will need to learn to prioritize so that you can tackle the important stuff first. Everything should have its place on the priority scale, and by dealing with the pressing matters first, you will be able to do a better job, much faster.
Optimize Your Sleep Cycle
Another important element of a healthy lifestyle that leads to elevated productivity and reduced stress is sleep. If you are not sleeping properly, you can’t expect to perform at your best. In fact, not getting enough sleep is one of the best ways to accumulate stress as well as mental and physical fatigue, all of which will diminish your work-life balance.
If you want to be as healthy as possible and use that well-being to become more productive and stress-free at work, then you have to make sure you’re getting enough shut-eye every night. Try to get between seven and nine hours of sleep, and create a sleeping schedule that will ensure you go to bed at the same time every single night. Consistency is key here, and you have to make sure you’re going to bed at the same time and getting up at the same time every morning in order to stabilize and optimize your circadian rhythm.
Use Art To Reduce Stress
Helping employees manage their mental health and offering ways to de-stress throughout the workday benefits not just the employees, but it also results in a more focused and productive workforce. Consider reducing employee stress and boost productivity using the arts.
Music can help to synchronize the workers and give the daily routine a rhythm. Drawing can aid in the visualization of issues, procedures, and improvements. Quiet crafts activities may readily be introduced into an office setting with minimum interruption to the environment, and they have the potential to greatly increase employee satisfaction and engagement.
Handling Work-Related Stress and Productivity
Somehow, stress seems to have become a part of our everyday lives, but that doesn’t mean that you are powerless to fight it. With these tips in mind, you can build a better work-life balance and banish stress from your life while increasing productivity among your employees with passion, and zeal.