5 ways to create a stress-free work environment
Life-work balance and city living life style concept of business man relaxing, take it easy at work in office room resting with thoughtful mind thinking of lifestyle quality looking toward future vision
Work-related stress is somewhat a common culprit why many professionals suffer from anxiety and worries. Perhaps, it’s the tight deadlines, work pressure, high expectations of bosses, or even human relationships. Needless to say, stress is becoming a mainstay for many work environments. Unfortunately, not only will this impact the wellbeing of your employees, but it also reduces productivity at your workplace, which results in a decline in revenues.
Having said that, it’s paramount to invest in innovative approaches to eliminate stress-inducing elements in the office. No matter what industry your business is in, there are similar strategies that almost all companies can adhere to. Work injuries presented in this article can also be minimized when you make efforts to enhance your work environment and practices.
To get started, apply the following ways to keep your workplace more stress-free:
- Prioritize employees’ wellbeing
The need for a healthy workforce is now being recognized by business leaders implementing various workplace wellness programs. This is one crucial tip to retain a stress-free working environment. While you may have created a good wellness program, it’s similarly vital to encourage everyone in your company to participate in and take advantage of it.
A manager can encourage more employees to participate in wellness programs by using some available tools. For instance, managers can dedicate time to wellness within the work schedule. It could be a simple five-minute stretching session mandatory to be performed by everyone in the middle of the day. This allows everyone to have a break from their monotonous and sedentary work routines.
You can also uplift everyone’s own spirits by playing relaxing music for a few minutes every day. Another idea is to promote and encourage everyone to take a break and stroll outside before their lunchtime.
All these efforts will give an impression on how you prioritize employees’ wellbeing as an employer.
- Consider flex time and remote work style
Another good strategy is to implement flexible working styles and schedules. It’s often studied how the remote working style actually results in increased productivity compared to rigid and fixed work methods. One way to apply this strategy is to meet with all the employees and know what they think about remote work and flex time. While others may want it, you should also consider those who don’t.
Some employees who prefer working remotely may achieve more successful outputs, so consider applying this modern work style in the office. By doing this, everyone can enjoy a higher work output, while significantly reducing their stress levels. You can conduct a few sessions about the post effects of this work style to see how the setup can be improved later on.
- Promote work-life-balance
Happy business woman is relaxing in office
Technological advancements in the workplace have made it easier to balance work and life. Some apps, software, and tools expedite processes and allow employees to finish tasks on time. Reduce overtime and encourage your employees to consume their paid leaves.
Establishing and modelling clear boundaries between work and home hours is imperative, so employees don’t feel obligated to be available 24/7. You can do this by taking the lead and establishing a good work-life balance yourself as the manager or employer. When all the people in the company have a good balance with their personal and professional life, your company can reap increased productivity and business outcomes.
- Listen proactively to your employees
It’s essential to listen well. The quality of your relationships and the effectiveness of your work are both heavily dependent on how well you listen. To reduce stress at work, everyone should express how they honestly think or feel.
Communication that’s open and encourages employees to share ideas for improvement and growth is a step to the right direction. You’ll become more productive and more persuasive, and be able to negotiate if you become a better listener. You’ll also avoid misunderstandings and conflicts. Those are all essential for workplace success.
- Encourage employees to take breaks
A person’s brain can only focus for a maximum of two hours before needing a break. Your employees should take a short break every couple of hours to disengage from challenging tasks. You can be a good role model by leaving your desk a few times in each work shift, and walking around the office or taking a break. Your team will perform better consistently if they let their minds rest and move their bodies.
Conclusion
Employee burnout and its consequences can be detrimental to business performance and employee wellbeing when unrecognized. Leadership needs to change the concept of stress-free work environments to combat this growing epidemic. Hopefully, the tips above can lead to more prosperous, healthier, and more stress-free working practices.
