In today’s increasingly hectic world, stress levels are higher than ever and that is particularly true for at the workplace. According to a study by Korn Ferry, nearly two-thirds of people report that their stress levels are higher now than they were five years ago. To make matters worse, 66% of those studied say they have lost sleep over workplace stress and 76% report that this stress has hurt their personal relationships.
One thing is certain, if you don’t work to proactively control your personal stress levels, you can’t expect someone to do it for you. Here are our tips to help get your work-related stress under control for a healthier you and a healthier environment in your chiropractic practice.
Turn off your email
Between treating patients and managing your practice, some days seem like you can’t get through any task without an interruption. You finally sit down at your desk, but can’t get through your to-do list because of a constant stream of emails. Here’s a suggestion: just turn it off!
When you respond to every email as it comes in, your productivity goes down the tube. Jumping from task to task forces your brain to stop, shift focus, and start all over again which interrupts the flow of truly focusing on something and producing your best work. The constant back and forth ends up creating additional stress because you simply can’t get as much work done as you’d like.
Try this: for the first 45 minutes of every hour you spend working on your computer, turn off your email. Focus solely on the task at hand, then open up your email and respond accordingly. More often than not, an email is not an emergency. So give this tactic a try and you’ll find that most people don’t need an immediate response…we just stress ourselves out thinking they do!
Get to working out!
As a chiropractor, how many times have you encouraged your patients to stick to a workout regimen to promote health? Not only is exercise good for the body, it is good for he mind and stress relief.
When you take the time to go to the gym, practice yoga, or go on a run, you give yourself the gift of doing something just for you. Self-care through exercise will not only boost your endorphins but will put you in the right frame of mind to take on tough projects at your practice. You don’t need to do a certain type of workout, just something that you enjoy and can maintain.
Stay hydrated
How your body feels effects how your mind feels. When you are dehydrated, your brain is not functioning optimally and cortisol levels will increase. When you are stressed, taking care of yourself by drinking water and eating healthy is usually the first thing to go. Make a conscious effort to get this right, and you will set yourself up for success when it comes to dealing with stressful situations.
Be Complimentary
The gifts we give to other people are also gifts we give to ourselves. When is the last time you gave a compliment out to a member of your team? Perhaps it was a sticky not on the computer monitor saying thank you for a job well done or letting them someone know what a great job they’ve done with a new initiative. Not only will this make your work environment a more positive place to be, but you will also enjoy better relationships, reciprocation, and even reduced stress.
If you find yourself felling stressed out, angry, or frustrated, focus on bringing some of these tools into your day-to-day routine. For more tips on how to best manage your chiropractic practice, contact us to schedule a free coaching call!