Three Ways to Make Your Job More Peaceful

By Autumn Wingate

When you think about your job, what comes to mind? Do things typically go with the flow or perhaps you thought of something pertaining to deadlines, a myriad of tasks to accomplish or emails to get caught up on?

Take a few moments to think about this: what would it feel like to have more peace at work even when tense times are happening?

If your job and work responsibilities feels stressful at times, I want to encourage you by saying it is possible to create more peace for yourself during your work hours. Reducing stress at work might not always be simple when it comes to things you have no control over. But implementing changes in the areas you can control is a great starting point.

Changes to reduce stress don't have to be complex. In fact, those changes can be small and over time make a huge difference.

Here are my simple tips for setting yourself up for success when it comes to establishing a more peaceful work environment:

Make having an organized desk a priority.

To me, a cluttered workspace feels chaotic. I know if my workspace looks messy it can have a negative impact on my concentration. Piles of paperwork or a lot of items on your desk can be distracting. It can also be a time waster if you don't have those things organized, and you are not sure where to locate something.

If you make it a habit to routinely clean your desk and put unneeded paperwork or items away, it can be a huge help to create a more peaceful workspace. Dale Carnegie addresses this and other helpful tips in his book How to Stop Worrying and Start Living.

Take regular breaks even when you're busy.

Stopping what you're doing while working on a project or taking a break between responding to emails might seem like it's decreasing your productivity level. However, it can actually help you focus better in the long run. Not only that but energy can be regenerated, your mood can improve and even cell, organ and tissue repair can occur.

Your body has what is called ultradian rhythms. Essentially, after about every 90 minutes of work/performance, your body needs a 20-minute break. According to a lecture called Understand Ultradian Rhythms by health journalist and author Pilar Gerasimo, she explains that byproducts of productivity build up in our system and are felt as stress in our body. The body will indicate it needs a break to replenish, detoxify, repair or rebalance. These needed breaks could be signaled by fidgeting, brain fog, fatigue, the need to use the restroom, thirst, hunger or cravings, especially carbs.

Putting off taking these breaks can cause your focus to become difficult to maintain for extended periods of time. Gerasimo also warns that not taking needed breaks can diminish creativity, affect your immunity and error rates can increase.

While taking a 20-minute break isn't always possible or realistic depending on your job, any break is better than nothing. Taking mini breaks through the day can help you honor your body's natural rhythm. A break could be as simple as stretching in your chair, doing some deep breathing, getting up from your desk to get away from your computer or sitting quietly.

Leave a time cushion for getting to work.

If you find yourself scrambling to get out the door most days to head into work, you're not alone. Being in a rush can add to your stress levels. Running behind schedule in the morning simply starts the day off on the wrong foot. I know I can feel irritable if I am racing out the door.

If you notice that you are typically running late, I want to encourage you to make it a point to give yourself an extra 15 minutes in the morning to get ready. Extra time means a cushion for the unexpected: heavy traffic, a sudden mess in the kitchen because you spilled your coffee or it's one of those mornings where you can't seem to find the perfect outfit to wear.

When you begin your day in a calm way, it helps set the tone for a more peaceful workday.