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February 6, 2008, 6:06 pm

4 easy ways to beat stress at work

The No. 1 reason why people quit a job is excessive stress, according to a recent study. Yet HR managers think insufficient pay and lack of career development are the issues, says Fortune’s Anne Fisher in her February 7 Ask Annie column. You can’t count on your company to help you cope. So how do you manage stress at work?

Sometimes I watch short relaxation videos from relaxwithnature.com
It helps.

Posted By fedeo : March 29, 2008 11:23 am

Healthy ways: I remind myself “This too shall pass” and I schedule extra me-time in my personal life.

Unhealthy ways: I overeat, brood, and take it out on conceited a******s like Yadgyu.

Posted By Maria, Cleveland, OH : March 4, 2008 4:24 pm

Check out – How to manage your Stress blog at http://www.kazira.com

Posted By Anonymous, Herndon, VA : February 27, 2008 3:45 pm

When I want to beat stress at work, I work harder.

Nothing makes me feel better than working hard and helping the company to make more money. I have reported several of my coworkers to my superiors. There are too many people who goof off during company time. My efforts at telling on those having fun have resulted in temporary suspensions, restricted internet use, random drug testing, heavy monitoring of break time, a ban on cell phone use, a ban on eating at the desk, a daily status report to supervisors, and even a few terminations. I may not be popular with some of my coworkers, but work is not about making friends. It is about helping the company to acheive optimal success. I will be promoted to manager soon and I will then have the ability target specific individuals and punish them myself.

Posted By Yadgyu, Harkeyville, TX : February 21, 2008 11:09 pm

Our bosses are largely uptight, fun-hating Luddites. We are never allowed to do things that might resemble play or games. We did some harmless pranks like stealth desk decorating, and we had a word game going with the bulletin board’s extra pushpins. Both times, the bosses responded with room-to-room interrogations on who was responsible for this highly unprofessional behavior. (Pretty much no one outside our department ever sees our offices or the aforementioned bulletin board, by the way.)

And they wonder why no one wants to go to lunch or happy hour with them, or why there’s been no interest in the new couch (recently purchased in order to “promote discussion”).

So I swear a lot. It’s like a valve that regularly lets some pressure off before I go nuclear. I also complain with my coworkers at lunch. Misery loves company, after all. Oh, did I mention my bosses were Luddites? We underlings might just be a bunch of stupid spoiled Gen Xers and Gen Yers who don’t remember having to draw spreadsheets in the dirt with sticks yadda yadda yadda… but as long as we have computers on our desks, our bosses will never be able to completely stamp out fun. ;)

Posted By Rebecca, Philadelphia, PA : February 12, 2008 9:35 am

I taped two FED-EX envelopes to my feet (they are very slick), and demonstrated Moon-Walking down the cubicle isle. EVERYONE started laughing, including me, and everyone had a good afternoon. Another great moment happened the day someone brought in a hula-hoop. Little things go a long way.

Posted By John, Raleigh, NC : February 11, 2008 1:15 pm

I use Emotional Freedom Technique and get out of stress very quickly. It is the most self empowering tool I know of. You can find out more about it at emofree.com. It is not my site.

Posted By Lynne Fredericks New York City. lefredericks3@hotmail.com : February 9, 2008 4:21 pm

Our office orders pizza or Chinese food or something like that on occasion to break up the monotony. Breakfast burritos are a big hit.

Posted By Christine B., Albuquerque NM : February 8, 2008 2:54 pm

Walking the dog after work clears the stress…he’s a four-legged “gym” that can be ignored since we live in the city. And when that doesn’t work, a beer.

Posted By Stacey, Seattle, WA : February 7, 2008 6:46 pm

Stealth ‘decorate’ another persons cube – don’t tell who did it and others will join in. We used sea shells – propped them up on the desk, pinned and taped them to the wall. Sea shells are a good neutral theme that will not offend many people, it’s fun and the target can go crazy figuring out the culprit – and it ended up being everyone on the team. Kept this up for months. Lots of fun.

Posted By Margaret, Atlanta, Ga : February 7, 2008 5:38 pm

I take a 20 min afternoon nap. Wow, I feel like a new born afterwards. Some of my coworkers ask me how I can do that at work. I tell them some people go outside to smoke. Well I sleep. Which one do you think it is better for your body, mind, and soul?

Posted By Sam, Mountain View, CA : February 7, 2008 11:10 am

My co-worker and I draw quick face pictures of other collegues or clients. At the same time we flip our paper around to each other and we both guess who the other person drew. There’s usually one obvious characteristic that gives it away. I have a nice collection of them in my top drawer. I giggle everytime I open it!

Posted By Shelley, Wilsonville, OR : February 7, 2008 10:42 am

HAVE A GLASS OF WINE. . .ESPECIALLY IN THE MORNING- IT KEEPS YOU FROM GETTING STRESSED=MELLOW

Posted By Tom, NY NY : February 7, 2008 10:40 am

We play catch with small foam stress/footballs in the hallways.

Posted By Jeremy, Austin, Texas : February 7, 2008 10:32 am

Have a racing chair contest with your co-workers.

Posted By Anonymous : February 7, 2008 9:20 am
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Anne FisherAnne Fisher, Fortune magazine senior writer, answers career-related questions and offers helpful advice for business professionals. Sign up for her weekly newsletter here.
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