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Simple Changes To Reduce Stress At Work

Contributed by Lucy Reed

If you own your own business or are in a position of authority at work, you are intimately familiar with stress. You also know that it can thwart your efforts to succeed and to grow your business. The good news is that with a few small changes, you can circumvent the most prevalent causes of workplace stress and focus on what really matters. Here are a few important ways to do just that.

Streamline procedures

It’s very easy to get caught in a loop of doing things the familiar way. But just because “it’s always been done like this” doesn’t mean it’s the best way. Your customer ordering and payment procedures are two examples.

Evaluate your order processing. If it involves multiple steps on your end  — or the customer’s — it’s probably doing you more harm than you know. Instead, consider switching to an online order platform, which puts your catalog of products at your customer’s fingertips. With the right order management system, everything from invoicing to inventory control is taken care of so you aren’t stuck comparing spreadsheets and consolidating information at midnight.

Adding an effective payment management strategy can also reduce stress. Your payment system should be easy for your customers to use. The popular Square terminal is a great example of a modern payment system. It accepts most forms of payment, including Google Pay and NFC transfers. Plus, it’s portable, secure, and comes with dispute resolution services and 24/7 support.

Cut out the “fat”

Cutting the proverbial fat is not the same as streamlining your procedures. This involves taking a look at the products and services you offer that you are selling. These are things that utilize resources, such as your time, advertising budget, and shelf space, but offer little or no return.

If you have products that haven’t sold despite your best marketing efforts, consider swapping them for things with a broader appeal. Sometimes, you can have a product that people need but can get in other ways. If you sell baby products, for example, breast pumps may not be a hot commodity any longer since the Affordable Care Act typically covers these at no cost to the parents. In this example, removing breast pumps from your inventory and replacing them with more popular products can help jumpstart your sales.

Stop multitasking

You may take pride in your ability to multitask effectively. But according to research, multitasking is not efficient and it can even cause more stress. Jim Taylor, Ph.D. and Psychology Today contributor goes as far as to assert that there is actually no such thing as multitasking, at least not in the conventional sense.

Instead of trying to get multiple things done at once, focus on tasks individually, and encourage your staff to do the same. This will not only increase your productivity but can also help you gauge how much work you can actually get done in a single workday.

Pay attention to yourself

Finally, and most importantly, prioritize your own well-being. If you’re constantly running yourself ragged, you’re not going to be as effective. Spend some time every day doing something that soothes your mind and allows you to rest. This could be something as seemingly insignificant as sitting and reading a book or going for a walk with your neighbor. Running a business requires some self-sacrifice, but if you lose yourself entirely, you won’t be able to enjoy the fruits of your labors.

Your business is an extension of you, but it’s one that can leave you a stressed out shell of yourself. Look for ways to innovate and reduce tension at work. Doing so will help you manage your priorities, and will likely keep your customers happier, too.