Top 10 Tips for Staying Zen at Work

So you finally found a “real” job, and now you have all these things to juggle. Somehow, you’re expected to balance a thriving social life with a go-getting, high-achieving career which, before you know it, gets you stressed.

Stress is one of the biggest issues in the workplace and can often sneak up on you, making you feel flustered and tired, and not enjoying the work you do. Stress accounted for 39% of all work-related illness in Great Britain in 2014.^[1] So, we’ve come up with the top ten tips to reduce stress at work, to help you stay zen, and make sure you look forward to Mondays! Follow these 10 tips and we guarantee you’ll be more zen at work.

1. Love the work you do.

This one might seem obvious, but the best way to enjoy your day at work is to love what you do. Having that passion goes a long way towards helping you keep zen in the workplace. So, before looking down at the rest of this list, ask yourself, ‘Do I love what I do?’ and if the answer is not an immediate ‘Yes’, take a look at the ethical jobs and charity jobs we have on offer.

2. Don’t compare yourself to others.

It’s so easy to look across your desk at Bob from accounting and think, ‘He’s doing so much better than me. How does he get it all done?’ Sure, maybe he is better at some things than you are, but there’s no need to compare. You were hired for your job because you impressed your employers. Have faith in yourself! While healthy competition can be conducive to work, it doesn’t help to constantly compare. You never know, maybe Bob from accounting is looking over at you and thinking the same thing. Focus on your tasks and do them to the best of your ability.

3. Plan your time.

This is so important. Planning and organising are a big part of all our lives and, let’s be honest, some of us are better at it than others. You just have to find out what works best for you. Whether it’s post-its on your laptop, or cloud-linked calendars across all your devices, plan your time. Every day. If you do this well you can even super-charge your productivity by placing a easy to complete task at the beginning of the day.

4. Give yourself a good working environment.

Clutter can often cause a distraction at work; so clear off all the unnecessary little bits and bobs that have somehow crept their way onto your work surface. Brighten up your desk, keep it clean, and make life a bit easier for yourself. A tidy desk is a catalyst to a stress free day.

5. Delegate.

Delegation is a skill that some people need to learn. You have to be okay with the idea that you can’t always do all the work that’s given to you. It’s what makes teamwork so important in the workplace. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or to let someone else take on some of your work. Learning to delegate well is part of becoming a good manager.

6. Reward yourself and others.

Sometimes work can seem like thankless task, so don’t leave it up to others to give you a pat on the back. Reward yourself for a job well done and your team is you have one. Don’t be shy about going for a long lunch, or even going home early if you have worked late the night before. It’s important to recognise, and celebrate, when a job’s been well done.

7. Surround yourself with good people.

A skill that’s useful at any point in our lives is the ability to make good friends. At work, keep zen by surrounding yourself with happy, positive people. They’ll help brighten your day and give you something to look forward to in the mornings. Some people exude positive energy and your time is much better spent with them than with the mingling with the moaners!

8. Concentrate on what’s in front of you.

Often, thinking about all the work you have to do can make you flustered or nervous but don’t let it get you down. Plan your time, focus on what you have to do now, and get it done! If you have planned your time effectively you can cut worrying out of your life and you’ll be surprised by how much time you actually have to do the real work.

9. Exercise.

For so many of us, work means sitting at a computer or behind a desk. This often means that we don’t get enough exercise in during the workday. So help yourself by getting to the gym or going for a jog. Keeping your body happy is the only way to keep your mind truly zen too.

10. Don’t take your work home with you.

It’s all too easy to find your brain ticking over with thoughts of work long after you’ve hopped off the tube and changed into your dressing gown. And it can drive your crazy!
We all have to learn to keep work separate from home life. Our top tip is to spend the last 15 minutes of every day planning the next day. If you didn’t get everything done, it’s ok, shuffle tomorrows’ tasks until you have a manageable day ahead, starting with something easy to achieve and you will sleep like a baby.