Stress reduction is essential to improving mental and physical health in the workplace. Stress is one of the most discouraging obstacles that currently decreases employee engagement in the workplace. Thus, when it comes to increasing the productivity of your work teams, it is essential to reduce work stress. In the following lines, you will learn the best way to generate a relaxed and, at the same time, productive work environment. Don’t lose details!

Is work a source of stress?

Studies agree that stress costs companies millions of dollars in annual losses. And, the workplace has been identified as the number one source of stress for workers in hundreds of countries around the world, including Spain. It’s no wonder, then, that approximately 56% of HR managers are concerned that their employees are leaving their companies due to physical and emotional stress.

Although work-related stress seems to be a common ailment these days, there are ways to control it. Although, it might be thought that finding a low-stress job is difficult, if not impossible. A more realistic approach for companies is to adopt effective coping strategies for stress reduction in the work environment.

How to achieve this? By addressing the needs of your employees and seeking help from professionals in holistic coaching. Chvmpionmind, as a platform, allows you to encourage the well-being of your leaders and work teams, without neglecting the productivity of your company. This platform promotes the physical and mental health of your employees, avoiding chronic diseases that are the result of stress and sedentary work habits.

Would you like to know some effective techniques to achieve work stress reduction? Here, we teach you how to manage stress and the best way to implement protocols within your company that will help improve the overall work situation…

Promote well-being in the workplace.

Employees feel valued when they think their boss is looking out for them!

Exercise and healthy living are two of your best weapons for work stress reduction. Exercise takes stress off employees’ minds; allowing them to focus on important tasks. It also improves mood by increasing the production of endorphins (neurotransmitters in the brain that make us feel good). Therefore:

• Encourage your employees to go for a walk during lunch breaks.
• Facilitate gym memberships
• Bring a yoga instructor into the office once a month.
• Organize a dance contest
• Offer healthy snacks in the office
• Encourage the habit of meditation in each of your employees.

According to José L. Melendez CEO of Cvmpion Mind ¨If someone wants to practice meditation on a daily basis, they should not think about doing it, but sit down to do it, and then think about what they did, what went well, and what they would need to continue practicing¨.

Meditation, therefore, is an excellent option when you want to achieve stress reduction, both work and personal. It is a life tool that should not be overlooked.

Renew the habitat

Any change that increases employees’ enjoyment will make them feel less stressed.

The greatest amount of stress comes from the environment and the situations that people have to deal with on a daily basis. A demanding and competitive world that gives no respite. Therefore, it is important to think about every aspect that determines the work environment. From the office space, to what is done or not done for the welfare of a team of workers.

Simple things such as the quality of the coffee or the height of the cubicle walls can affect the mood of the employees and, therefore, their commitment to the company. Updating the office with a cheerful color scheme, the presence of natural plants, windows that allow the entry of natural light, among other additional things make a difference and you will be surprised how much it improves the reduction of stress in workers. Also, if you have the space, it is important to consider adding a distraction center to allow employees to relax for a few minutes.

Allow flexible schedules and remote work

Allowing employees to have a flexible work schedule will give them time to take care of the people they love and stop thinking that their work takes them away from them.

Talent management undertaken by your company hired employees because they have confidence in their capabilities and professionalism. That is, in the skills that will enable them to perform their tasks and duties well, in a timely and efficient manner. However, workers should not feel the office as a cell, but as a place that facilitates the performance of their work.

It is important to let employees know that their work is defined by quality and on-time delivery, not by working hours. So allow your employees to work remotely and give them flexibility in their start and end times if necessary. This idea of freedom is great for office morale, as it helps you show that you trust them enough. Stress reduction, therefore, will be motivated by the ability to alter the schedule, which can feel like a forced commitment.

Encourage social activities

Help your employees make personal connections and work better together.

Employees spend a lot of time together, and the more comfortable they are with each other, the more viable stress reduction will be. As coworkers get to know each other, expectations and communication barriers break down, fostering contact that facilitates future interactions.

Promotes moments of tranquility

Taking breaks throughout the day ensures job tenure; employees will return to the office.

Stress can’t be completely avoided, but you can help alleviate it when it arrives. Make sure your employees have a place where they can take a break. A small room, a lounge down the hall or even an outdoor bench can be perfect for finding refuge from the chaos of the daily grind and increase stress reduction. Think about longer, retreat-style vacations that can serve the same purpose. If your organization can afford it, consider implementing one day a week with no meetings or something similar, with an eye toward avoiding a day of unnecessary information or overwhelming pressure.

Provide face-to-face or remote counseling

Many companies, too, have begun to provide counseling as a way for employees to work on stress reduction. This strategy, in or out of the office, in groups or individually, can help the team prepare for the stress that comes their way. Your employees will positively embrace the help.

Recognize your employees

Employees love to be praised for a job well done and recognizing their success results in a big boost in engagement. Each employee has a different personality, so be careful when considering how and when to recognize them. But regardless of how you choose to do it, your employees will appreciate that you are aware of their success and want to share it with others. This makes them feel happier and more comfortable. At the same time, it encourages considerable stress reduction.

Important…

Did you know that most employees’ work stress comes from their bosses? So, how can you create a relaxed and productive work environment?

Employees who have a negative relationship with their boss have equally negative behaviors that affect their professional performance and even their personal life. Sleeping problems, anxiety, high blood pressure and even the risk of a heart attack. However, this should not be a constant. Chvmpion Mind’s 21-week leadership development plan or personal coaching can give your team and their managers the right tools to work with employees in a positive and constructive way.

Remember, the more aware your team is of their behavior, the better equipped they will be to handle interpersonal challenges as they arise and thus achieve stress reduction easily and simply.