Stress Less: Take Action at Work

Being prepared and in control of your situation will help you feel less stress. Follow these tips for preventing and managing stress at work.

1. Plan your time. Think ahead about how you are going to use your time. Write a to–do list and decide which tasks are the most important. Be realistic about how long each thing will take.
   
   
2. Prepare yourself. Prepare ahead of time for stressful events like giving a presentation or having a difficult conversation with a co-worker.
• Picture the event in your mind.
• Stay positive.
• Imagine what the room will look like and what you will say.
• Have a back–up plan.
  
  
3. Relax with deep breathing. When we’re absorbed in a stressful event, we often hold our breath, or just take quick, shallow breaths. Learning to focus on deep, relaxing breaths is probably the easiest and simplest method of calming your body’s reaction to stress.
   
   
4. Relax your muscles. Stress causes tension in your muscles. Stretching can help you relax. Try these stretches at your desk.
   
   
5. More More. Physical activity can help prevent and manage stress. It can also help relax your muscles and improve your mood. Try taking the stairs instead of the elevator, going for a walk during lunch or using one of the King County Activity Centers.
   
   
6. Eat Smart. Stress and poor eating habits often go hand in hand. Give your body plenty of energy by eating fruits, vegetables, and protein throughout the day. Try bringing a healthy lunch with you each day and selecting healthier snacks from the vending machine.
   
   
7. Get help if you need it. Stress is a normal part of life, and lots of people need help to manage it better. Try these resources:
• Employee Assistance Program - Licensed, certified counselors assist you in finding a solution to work-related issues that adversely impact your work performance, conduct, relationships, health, or well-being. This program is free for all county employees, regardless of benefit eligibility or career status. Contact Pam Wyss at (206) 684-2103 or Tony Hansen at (206) 263-4572, or visit the Employee Assistance Program website.
• Making Life Easier Program - Making Life Easier is a free support and referral program that provides tools and resources to help you resolve personal life problems such as:
• Child care and parenting
• Helping aging parents
• Financial issues
• Legal concerns
• Emotional well-being
• Domestic violence or sexual abuse
• Grief or loss
• Addiction and recovery

This program is free for benefit-eligible employees, their dependent family members, and anyone living in the employee’s household. Call the MLE program 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 888-874-7290 or visit the Making Life Easier website.