Dealing with stress at work can drain your passion and productivity. Stress can badly affect your mood, work habits, and work relationships.


No matter how much you try to control things at the office, there will be circumstances out of your reach. Whether you get stressed or not, it’s up to you. It all depends on how you handle the situation.



To help you out, I’ve compiled some of the most common stressful situations at work and gave a few suggestions on how to handle it.



1. Your boss makes you do tasks that aren’t really in your job description



What to do: Sure, you want to please your boss and go the extra mile, but if you keep doing this, you might not be able to finish tasks that are more important. Learn to say no. It’s a cliché, but it’s a very important skill at work. Say it politely and with respect. Try doing it this way, “Sorry (Boss’ name), I can’t do (tasks), because I have to work on (more important task). This will work, especially if you provide a good enough reason. If your boss asks you to do another task not in your job description, then perhaps it’s time to talk to him or her about the scope of your job.



2. Someone at work has the habit of playing really loud music.



What to do: While this may seem like no big deal, it can be annoying when you’re trying to concentrate on a complex task. You can try to live it with it—use headphones or transfer to another workstation. If this doesn’t work, politely ask the person to use a headphone or lower the volume of his speakers.



3. A co-worker is fond of engaging in political arguments.



What to do: We all have our own beliefs, so it can get annoying when someone pushes their beliefs to your face. The best way to avoid this is to avoid getting into a conversation on the topic with that person. As soon as he tries to start with you, move away or laugh it off and don’t fall for the bait.



4. A group of people in the office enjoys gossiping and they want you to join them.



What to do: Gossiping is the worst habit you can develop in the office. People who engage in these sessions are the least productive and least professional workers. Stay away from these people. Never listen to their gossip! Just tell them that you don’t like talking about other people’s lives. If they start gossiping about you, don’t be tempted to explain your side to them. You might think this will solve the problem, but in most cases, this will only add fuel to the flame.



5. You need to work with a person you don’t agree with or has a different working style from you



What to do: Deal with it. You can’t always choose who you work with, so the best thing to do is set aside your differences. At the start of the project, make sure you delegate tasks among yourself, so you only need to meet to put things together. It may be wise to lessen meeting with each other unless necessary for the project.