4 tips for managing work-related stress

Although it's common to experience periods of stress at work, excessive stress can interfere with your productivity and success. It can also affect your physical and emotional health. Because you can't always control your workplace environment, here are four tips to help you manage the anxiety it may cause.

It's important to be aware of your own anxiety at the workplace. Anxiety can manifest in many ways, and it's not always the sweaty palms and tense muscles that you might associate with stress.

• Other common signs of anxiety are feeling irritable or depressed, as well as having a sense of apathy or loss of interest in your work.
• Difficulty sleeping, excessive fatigue or trouble concentrating are additional symptoms of stress.

These are just a few signs of anxiety, and once you begin to recognize them, you will be better equipped to reduce or control the stress factors in your environment.

Managing your work and personal life means you will be in a better place to deal with stress and anxiety. Even small things can lift your spirits, improve your mental space and help you deal with unsettling things in life.

• Start by making sure you get enough sleep, exercise for 30 minutes each day and maintain a healthy diet.

These positive lifestyle choices will help you reduce your stress levels at work.

When you start to feel stressed out at work, it's helpful to prioritize your tasks.

• Keep a balanced schedule that allows you to analyze your responsibilities, and make sure that you have time in your day for the most important tasks.

Once you have a handle on which things you need to prioritize each day, you'll feel less anxious about letting some of the more frivolous stuff slide.

Manage your emotional health through meditation to help retain self-control and self-confidence in the workplace. This balanced emotional state can be incredibly helpful in dealing with anxiety.

• Emotional intelligence allows you to communicate with others in ways that draw people to you. It also creates opportunities to diffuse stress and tension.

Meditation is one of the best ways to improve emotional intelligence. It also allows you to stay present and find a place of calm that isn't overwhelmed by emotions.