Reducing stress in the office

Stress has become a part of the culture and lifestyles of most American adults. With a slowed economy, many jobs have been lost, benefits cut and gas and grocery prices have increased. As employers have begun to realize that taking care of the employees in other, more creative ways, can help stabilize and even increase their bottom lines and help them retain the best employees, we've seen an increase in how to manage stress.

Studies have shown that in house workplace stress management programs can have a profound effect on increased worker productivity, as well as reduced illness and absenteeism. The following tips simple ways for you to decrease stress and anxiety in yourself and your employees:

Address individual needs. Everyone's needs and ability to cope with daily stressors are different. Help employees develop a long and short term plan for getting tasks done on schedule. Check in with them regularly with positive feedback. If they seem to be overwhelmed, spend more time on helping them prioritize their needs and tasks.

Communicate. Miscommunication is one of the greatest obstacles to overcoming stressful situations. Make sure all communication is clear and when needed, spend time ensuring that everyone's voice has been heard. Schedule regular evaluations with your employee to alleviate anxiety that staff members may feel about their quality or work and/or the security of their position in the business. Encourage them with positive feedback and keep an open door policy so they can feel comfortable addressing their concerns with you.

Don't overwork. Staying late every night is not going to guarantee you a leg up in the company. Set an established end time for your day and stick to it. Extra time in the office does not always mean being extra productive. Working hard within the boundaries of a set timeline will help your team work harder and more efficiently and still allow them time to separate from work and devote time to the other important things in their lives like family and friends.

Healthy living. Proper nutrition and regular exercise have been proven to increase workers? performance and lessen the amount of sick days taken. With over 22 million lost days of productivity a year, it's important to eat healthy, stay active and think positive. Employers can help by stocking vending machines with some healthy options like fruit, granola and nuts and providing water to drink. Organized business activities such as yoga, walking or even reduced-rate memberships to the gym will encourage your employees to make better choices. Other opportunities to help can include offering support groups for smoking cessation and weight loss. Helping employees kick that bad habit can increase their mental outlook and how they feel about themselves.

Spend time together. Aside from the occasional travel time together, training or happy hour, employees have little time to get to know one another. Taking time once a quarter or even once a month to go to lunch together, work on team building exercises or even join a softball league toughest can provide relief from stressful days in the office.

Flexibility and understanding. Make it clear to your staff that they can come to you anytime with questions, concerns, or feedback. Address issues immediately, as anything that involves more than one staff member is most likely disrupting the positive flow and cooperation around the office. Try to be accommodating, within reason and understand that family issues do arise. Employees appreciate feeling like their family lives matter to their employers and are more likely to focus on their work tasks when not confronted by problems at home.

Pace yourself. Sitting on the phone, at a computer or in an enclosed office for eight to ten hours a day is not healthy. Allow yourself time to stretch and move every hour. Deep breathing for a few minutes can help you recharge and refocus.