7 ways to avoid stress on your job

526.000 workers in the UK suffer from stress, anxiety or depression related to their jobs in 2016/17, according to the Health and Safety Executive.

The number of workers amounts to 12.5 working days lost in 2016/17.

That is a lot of people and a lot of hours. So here are 7 ways to bring down stress and anxiety at work, based on tips and tricks from the NHS and mental health organizations.

1. Exercise: physical activity cause chemical changes in our brains that improve our mood. It can even help people with depression and protect us against anxiety, according to scientists.

2. Make decisions and take control

if you do not do anything about a problem, it just grows bigger. Remaining passive therefore causes stress of work. To take control and make decisions is empowering and can help bring down stress – also on the job.

3. Talk to other people

A chat with your colleagues at work or your friends and family when you come home can help you relax and make you look at your problems in different ways.

4. Me time British workers work the longest hours in Europe – which leaves less time for fun stuff that makes us happy. So, take some me time and enjoy yourself.

5. Challenge yourself

Can I do it? YES I CAN! Learning new stuff builds confidence – and help us deal with stress.

6. Eat healthy

Sometimes, we just want to spoil ourselves with a pizza. That is good – even necessary in our perspective! – as long as it does not become a habit. We love pizza, but it does not solve our problems over the long term – neither our stress or anxiety issues.