Work at home jobs

Coping with stressful work at home jobs

By Work-at-Home.org

Most of us who are fortunate enough to have work at home jobs have less stress simply because we have work at home jobs. Most of us find our lives far less stressful without having the daily commute, the political pressures of traditional offices, the constant infections passed around the office, the constant interruptions of traditional workplaces, and all of the seemingly endless impediments to productivity that used to annoy us to death in offices.

Now, thanks to our work at home jobs, we work barefoot in oh-so-comfortable clothing, getting more work done with less effort to the gentle hum of the clothes dryer. Our kids are calling us mom again and we're feeling well, frisky, toward our husbands again.

But what if our work at home jobs aren't going quite that well? What if your work at home job is a constantly ringing telephone, pressure to get more done in less time, a team of 'virtual' people who never do their jobs right and a computer network that's always down when you really need it?

Chances are that if our work at home jobs are that stressful when done at home, they were even more stressful when we did them in that stuffy old office. It's hard to imagine a job becoming more stressful when it becomes a work at home job unless there is some environmental issue at home that needs resolving. Perhaps it is some comfort to us to know that we are at least in some respects better off with work at home jobs.

Obviously, your first step toward taking the stress out of work at home jobs would be to objectively and thoughtfully examining your work at home job to see if certain changes can be made to reduce your stress. Can you take calls during specified times and let calls go to voicemail during other times to reduce interruptions? Can you ask certain long-winded callers to email you instead to reduce time? Can you explain your limits to your boss and get them to back off of the endless pressure? Can you reduce noise annoyances in your work at home space?

Once you've made all the changes that are possible to your work at home jobs it's time to see what you can change about your work at home environment. Those of us with work at home jobs spend a lot of time at home so our environment should be conducive to both productive work and positive living.

Here are some simple ways to reduce the stress
related to your work at home job:

• Eliminate any stressful situations about your workspace, such as inorganization
• Put a soothing water fountain or similar water feature near your desk where you can hear the soothing sounds all day while you work. (Buy the fountain from a store that has working models on display. Each model will sound different and some will sound far more pleasing and relaxing to you than others.)
  
• Take very long, relaxing deep breaths anytime you notice you're feeling stressed.
  
• Make sure your work at home environment is not decorated to over-stimulate you. Instead of cold whites or alarming reds and oranges make sure your work environment includes soothing colors, such as soothing greens or blues.
  
• Learn the Serenity Prayer: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. (If you'd like toorder a poster for your office you can order this prayer in your choice of several absolutely beautiful formats from www.churchofthenativity.com/posters/serenity-prayer-poster.html.
  
• If you're the kind of person who can commit to a pet for a decade or two and be a good parent to a pet, consider adopting a dog or cat from your local animal shelter. Try to select one that is calm and affectionate, not independent and hyperactive.
  
• Talk to yourself (silently or not) and ask yourself if the things that are stressing you out are really worth getting stress out for. Five years from now, are any of these things going to matter? Don't allow yourself to react to things that are simply not important when you really analyze them.
  
• Get exercise. Studies show that exercise helps us cope and reduce stress. Previous generations were able to be physical while they worked, thus able to work off daily stress, tension and emotion. Now, we're stuck behind computers being bombarded constantly with more stress with no way to relieve it. Those of us with work at home jobs have the added benefit of flexible schedules so we can exercise at our convenience! (Like when the gym is empty, for example.)
  
• Slow things down. Are there self-imposed deadlines that can be slowed down?
  
• Take little mini-breaks throughout the day. Take deep breaths. Pet your cat or dog. Do some stretches. Walk around the yard. Garden for a few minutes.
• Call a friend. Interrupt the stressful pattern so it can't build on itself.
  
• Drink some chamomile tea while you work or during breaks from your work at home job. Chamomile tea is very calming and quite pleasing during stressful times. Most of us with work at home jobs can stop working and fix ourselves a cup of tea anytime we wish.
  
• In cases of sudden, extreme stress, try screaming into a pillow for several minutes to relieve the negative emotion. They say no one can hear you. An alternative to pillow screaming is having a good old cry, like kids do when they get stressed out.
• And finally, look at your life and see if you're balancing your hard work with some hard play. You know that old saying, "Work hard. Play hard." All work and no play made Jack a very dull boy (and Jill and very dull girl.). If you're the hard-working type, good for you, but maybe it's time to see if perhaps you're a little too hard-working. It is very important to recharge yourself with relaxing recreation and 'play' that will relieve tension and stimulate your pleasure sensors.
  

Obviously, if these techniques don't reduce the stress from our work at home jobs enough we must consider whether or not we should simply find different work at home jobs. But consider that option carefully: work at home jobs aren't quite as easy to come by as those traditional jobs we're not the slightest bit interested in anymore.

Take this stress test:. Do you over-react to these types of situations? Driving during rush hour Dealing with someone's incompetence at work Getting a last minute work assignment Being late for an event Waiting in long lines Misplacing something you feel you need, such as your sunglasses

You've heard of good stress and bad stress. Stress is an important part of our lives. It keeps life interesting, keeps us motivated and alert and helps us solve problems. Problems come when we have too much stress. Signs of having too much stress can include: sleep disorders, digestion problems (such as diarrhea, nausea or frequent heartburn), headaches, depression, and tendency toward excessive drinking, overeating, smoking and/or drugs.

Some stress is good. Too much stress is bad.

We all experience more stress when we feel we have little or no control over situations. Learn to exercise control over the things that you can control and ponder this inspirational saying: "Always depend upon the calm knowledge that you can be master of anything that may happen to you."

Learn and adopt the Serenity Prayer.

Remember that if we were under the same conditions in an office instead of having our work at home jobs, we'd be even more stressed out!