Stress can be conducive to a low level of productivity. This is due in part to the fact that when we stress we tend to feel trapped in our own cognitive cycles and patterns, therefore the solutions to problems that may be simple, to us seem tangled, obscured or otherwise confounding.
Combating stress is a personal battle. You need to build a sense of calm and then maintain that throughout the day. A relaxed working environment can help. This can be anything from personal effects from home to more plants in the office.
Making sure you are relaxed can begin on your commute. Reading a book or listening to music works for some. For others grabbing a pillow and getting some shuteye works if the commute is a particularly long one on public transportation.
Obviously, we can’t control what sort of office we work in, some are more closed working spaces or more confined by nature. Others are sprawling shared floors, with just dividers between desks. That being said, some find that more stressful: to be lumped in with 50, 100+ to the space than say closed off rooms within buildings, sheltering those inside from the noise and magnitude of a larger firm.
Typically, the larger the company the bigger the perks. If you have a desk than can be raised or lowered to suit your posture, you’re bound to feel more comfortable. Better canteen offerings and a wider selection on your favourite foods? – That’s a win. Then we’ve got bonuses. Money talks. It can be a stress reducer to work for a company that’s large but looks after it’s employees. Don’t just think Google (we know they’re great); most banks offer ‘around the world food’ for a third of the price. Pool tables, foosball tables – all help ease the grind of your average workday.
If you have worked your way up and you’re on board with a company that really can afford to treat its employees like rockstars, congrats. You’ve earned it. However you don’t want to relax to the point where your productivity is affected, it’s all a balancing act. (We know some companies have sleep pods, so they really do want you to snooze as you wish. A perfect way to handle this balance might be as simple as having visual aids to motivate you. Quotes you like from inspirational figures or an image of something you want. It is important to incentivise your work. Giving yourself purpose is the greatest stress reliever of all.
