Dealing With Stress on the Job - Effective Ways to Cope With Interpersonal Friction and Pressure

Stress on the job is one of the top reasons people set up appoinments at my counseling office. This includes not only coping with work deadlines, but the daily tensions with one's boss or co-workers. Sometimes there is ongoing friction due to a personality conflict that creates a dread about going to the office in the morning. This can result in bodily tension even before one works into the office.

Just as we take a shower before work in the morning generally, it is useful to also try to clean your mind from existing grudges, anger and emotional baggage before leaving the home. Take five minutes to do a simple breathing technique where you breathe slowly, suspend your breath for five minutes, exhale slowly and then hold air out for another five seconds. Keep bringing your attention back to the breathing when the mind starts wandering to other areas. Don't let it control you.

Even if this only reduces the tension initially, it will still keep you more centered at the office. Relax your body several times a day by just focusing on your chest relaxes, then your stomach relaxing and finally doing a few shoulder rolls. These can all be done at your desk.

Everyone likes to feel that they are being heard with full attention. If a co-worker or manager that you had difficulty with in the past speaks to you and you notice your body getting tense, there are a few things you can do. First of all, try to remember to not tighten up your body. You may be making a negative face that only creates more tension in the interaction. Consider that they may have tension at home, a pressured situation from their own supervisor or other factors that create their behavior being abrupt or controlling. Take a moment to have compassion. Don't take their words personally as their stance may be due to the above reasons. Stay calm and reply back with intelligence , self-control and respect. If appropriate, using humor is also a great way to break underlying tension with someone.

Be the first to act differently. It is easy to get into a power contest with someone at work. By not fueling this yourself, you'll see nice changes in your interpersonal relationships.




Read articles at Hives Rash and Cold Sore Lip stress induced problems.