The New Year is a time to say goodbye to the challenges of the past 12 months and to celebrate all the potential that is to come. In our personal lives, we all have likely set New Year’s resolutions—to get in shape, be more mindful or spend more time with family, all goals that can be supported by experiencing less stress at work.
The workplace can be a significant source of anxiety and stress, which is difficult to leave at the office. Many employees may struggle to meet their personal goals when they’re feeling overwhelmed by their work responsibilities, which is why the New Year is a prime opportunity to work on feeling less stress at work.
Here are five steps to get reenergized and refreshed in the workplace, so you can stay on track both personally and professionally.
Set Goals
Having a realistic to-do list is a great way to keep stress in check. Create a list of objectives for each coming month, week or even day so that, when you get into the office, you know exactly what awaits you. And each time you accomplish one of your goals, you get to enjoy the satisfaction of checking it off your list and moving on to your next task.
Clean Your Workspace
Just like a cluttered, messy house can ramp up the stress at home, a work environment also has the potential for adding headaches. So, get out the recycling bin and the trash can and get to work cleaning your office or cubicle.
Reorganize
If you’re eager for less stress at work, start off the New Year with a new look. Rearranging furniture, adding some new decorations and reconsidering how you organize your desk and other belongings can all help you face 2020 with a fresh perspective.
Celebrate Accomplishments
While the New Year is all about looking forward, it’s also a chance to reflect on the past year. Think about—or even make a list of—all that you accomplished at work in 2019 and use that effort to motivate continued success in 2020.
Focus on Your Files
Email is the primary way in which most employees now communicate, but it can also be a major source of stress. Stacks of unread messages and emails that require follow-ups can distract from everyday tasks, so one way to experience less stress at work is to get your email just as orderly as your desk and drawers. Spend a full day and sort through and delete old messages, create new labels to store archived emails and focus on those emails you’ve been putting off on responding to.
A few simple tricks can lead you into the New Year with better focus and less stress at work!
