Office Stress/Anxiety – Physical Causes

Posted on by
  1. Insufficient sleep – particularly if your clients/vendors/team members are on different time zones.
    • Sleep is relaxation – the opposite of anxiety and the cure for it.
  2. Hurried Breakfast with coffee/tea
    • Often nutrition is compromised though not always
    • Coffee is a stimulant, not a relaxant and contributes to anxiety
  3. Crazy Commute
    • Depending on your mode of transport and the number of wheels it has you can face, mortal fear/aggravation/annoyance/indignity/..
      • This stuffs the bad chemicals into your system
  4. Hit the ground running
    • Start working as soon as you get in
    • Sedentary, un-ergonomic posture for long durations
  5. Consume a sweet stimulant (coffee/tea/chocolate/coke) whenever you need a break or a relaxant or exercise. Maybe even smoke.
  6. Consume high calorie meals.
  7. Work pressures, deadlines, office politics, desire for continued employment/promotions/recognition
  8. Office lunches/dinners/parties – more stress combined with calories.
  9. Stressful Commute, sometimes extending politics discussions with friends.
  10. Miss time with loved ones. Guilty Feelings add toxins.
  11. Deal with domestic pressures and responsibilities
  12. Conference calls, logging in one-last-time, late-to-bed.

A lot of people swear that they are just fine and handle stress great and that they are enjoying their lives. Then they show high blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, spine troubles, liver troubles, kidney troubles, heart troubles etc. They look out of shape and their expressions would send small rabbits scurrying into their burrows.

Recommendations :

  1. Replace coffee breaks with majjige-lassi breaks.
  2. Go for small runs or long walks in the gym or parking lot.
  3. Do pranayama or meditation in an empty conference room at lunch time.
  4. Get up from your seat to drink water at least once an hour.
  5. Count your lunch calories – eat rabbit food ie carrots and fresh veggies.
  6. Have a good fun friend who remembers how to laugh.
  7. When you have to call someone – get up and go meet them.

Of course these habits won’t cure problems like deadlines and politics – but they will reduce your anxiety levels.

There are a few rare bosses who will let you “un-fast-track” yourself if you are willing to let others have the bonuses and promotions first and are willing to get yours in-due-time. If you find such a boss don’t let them go.

satyA

Picture by anIs’A the walrus!

About these ads