Office Stress - How To Deal With Anxiety At Work

Office stress is a very common problem these days. This is a huge issue because such a big part of our lives are spent in the workplace. If you put in 50-60 hour work weeks (like many of us do), chances are you're under some serious pressure at work. Furthermore, people often take their stress home with them! This literally affects all aspects of your life. Time spent with your friends and family, for example, is less enjoyable for both you and others. Chances are you aren't sleeping or eating well too. This, in turn, affects your physical well being.

So what can we do to alleviate some of the stress from working to improve both our home and career lives? Luckily, there are a ton of resources online that provide some simple tips to help with this problem. One way that I've had great success with is being more assertive.  Read on for a brief overview of assertiveness and a being techniques you can start using right away

A lot of stress that we deal with at our jobs is related to our co-workers. The workplace relationship really is a unique one and can be quite frustrating at times. If you can find a way to get your point across without upsetting your fellow employee, you'll find that your anxiety level with drop substantially. Before we get into a few exercises on assertiveness, let's outline exactly what I mean...

Assertive Vs. Aggressive

Being assertive means expressing your thoughts and ideas in a clear, direct, respectful manner. Don't mistake this for aggression! You shouldn't be trying to prove your point over someones else's. Always strive for a solution in which everyone wins. Being aggressive means using abusive, manipulative and negative tactics to get your way. An assertive individual, on the other hand, is able to get their point across openly, directly and honestly.

So How Can I Be More Assertive With My Co-Workers?

Some people have a natural gift when it comes to this but most of us have to work at it. Here are three simple things you can do to get your point across respectfully.

• Use Facts When Presenting A Problem
  

This is important. It's best presented in an example format. Let's say that you constantly buy lunch for an employee and he never returns the favour. You'd probably be tempted to say something like:

"It's your turn to pay for lunch!"

This could potentially get ugly... Instead of saying this, try using facts!

"I paid for lunch last time. I think it's your turn to pay."

This is a much softer, more respectful way of saying essentially the same thing. It will pretty tough for your buddy to get offended by the second comment though.

• Say "I" Instead Of "You"

Another fantastic way to improve your workplace relationships, and reduce office stress, is to say "I" instead of "you". The word "you" suggests blame and forces the other person to put up their defences. Remember, you're shooting for a win-win situation here. Using "I" is a more humble way of stating your opinion. Have a look at the following two sentences. They both say the same thing - yet in much different way.

"You borrowed my stapler and still haven't returned it!"

"I believe you borrowed my stapler. Are you finished with it yet?"

Note how much softer the second sentence is. A more civil office place relationship will wash your stress away!

• Listen!

Next time your fed up with an employee's antics, take a deep breath and listen to them! Try to hear what they mean, as opposed to what they say. People that are stressed often don't have the patience to present their thoughts in a respectful manner. This isn't an excuse but may help you better understand where your co-worker is coming from.

As you can see, being assertive can really help you to deal with some of the anxiety that you feel at work.  It won't always be easy!  If you can slowly plug away though, it won't be long before your work and home life are less stressful.  Good Luck!