If heavy workloads, low salaries, and long hours at the office make you want to scream and/or pull your hair out, you’re not alone. Forty-one percent of employed adults report feeling stressed out most workdays, according to a survey by the American Psychological Association. In addition to the actual job stress, research then piles on additional anxiety as you learn just how damaging all that frazzled on-the-clock time is to your health. A recent study found that women with high job strain were 67 percent more likely to have a heart attack than those with low job stress.
While you can’t always switch jobs or improve employer expectations, you can certainly upgrade your work style and stress-coping skills. Try some simple body checks—yep, it’s body over mind this time—to help keep you calm and confident… and maybe even healthier at work.
Fake a smile. When working on a tough task, researchers recommend you force a smile for a moment. A study in Psychological Science found that smiling during a stressful task can reduce the body’s stress response regardless of whether or not the expression is forced.
Sit up straight. A study in the European Journal of Social Psychology found that good posture increased work-related self-confidence and a slumped posture lowered it. If you’re at a desk, make sure your chair helps keep you upright. Prop your computer screen at eye level and consider switching to an ergonomic keyboard pad.
Look around. Decorate your workspace with personal photos, travel calendars, and little mementos that represent happy times and places. Glance at them for an instant mood boost throughout the day.
