- 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.
- Eliminate any stressful situations about your workspace, such as inorganization.
- 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'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.
- 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 who telecommute 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 telecommuting jobs have the luxury of being able to stop working and fix ourselves a cup of tea anytime we wish.
- In cases of sudden, extreme stress such as when someone makes you very angry, 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. Since you have a telecommuting job you don't need to worry about being embarrassed.
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 and no doubt your hard work will pay off in your home business, 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 telecommuting jobs enough we must consider whether or not we should simply find a different home business or means of employment. But consider that option carefully: work at home jobs and home based businesses ren't quite as easy to come by as those traditional jobs we're not the slightest bit interested in anymore.
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