How to Deal With a Stressful Work Day

No matter how much you love your job, there are going to be days that suck. It might be an upcoming meeting or business pitch. Or it could be the length of your to-do list, that seems to stretch across your desk and trail down onto the floor. In the moment, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. Been there, done that. But stress can easily drains you of the energy and motivation needed to tackle the day, unless you can take control of it.

We all need a go-to process for when the going gets though. You might have a method that works for you already, but here's my trusted way of beating those stressful days at work:

1. Walk away

Get up and physically walk away from your desk. Take your lunch hour or go for a walk around the block. When the stress sets in, it's time to remove yourself from the situation - even for 10 minutes. Take a breath, clear your head and focus on something else.

2. Unplug for a moment

When you get back to your desk, clear it of distractions. That means closing your computer, turning off the phone, and putting email notifications on silence for a few moments.

3. Make a list

On a piece of paper, jot down all the things you need to accomplish that afternoon. Write down everything - even if it's replying to an email or editing a report. Get everything down on paper.

4. Prioritize the tasks

Once you have your tasks down in writing, use sticky notes to divide up them up by urgency or deadline. Each sticky note represents a different level of urgency - what must be done in the next hour, before the end of the day and what can be put off until tomorrow. Move each task from your list onto the appropriate sticky note, and then display these somewhere on your desk.

Or think in 15 minute increments

If you can't group your tasks by urgency, start thinking about the day in increments. Organize your list in the order of what you'll do next. First, work on clearing your inbox for 15 minutes. Then, spend another 15 minutes editing a report. Instead of thinking about the day as a whole, narrow your focus to only 15 minutes in the future. A few minutes is much less daunting than an eight hour day. You can even set a timer on your phone to keep you moving from one task to the next.

5. Jump back in

Once you have your tasks down on paper, and organized by priority, take a deep breath. You've just created a clear game plan for the rest of your day - what needs to be done and when it's due. Jump back in. You've got this.

How do you deal with stress during busy days at work? I'd love to hear your best tips or tricks.

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