How good are you at knowing how to handle stressful situations at work?

Learning how to appropriately manage your workplace stress can make all the difference when it comes to your health, mental state, and productivity. No matter how much you love your job or what you do, there is always going to be a certain amount of stress that comes with it.

In the workplace, stress can come at you from all angles. Whether it’s an angry client, an awkward colleague conversation, or making a mistake on a big project, mounting stress that’s not taken care of can lead to physical and mental health concerns.

If you’re looking for some better ways to handle stress, we’ve got your back.

Check out these tips below for tackling stressful situations at work.

Employee wellbeing — how is it faring in most companies these days?

This won’t be a shocker for most: Employees are unhappy. As a result, their wellbeing is suffering, too. Overall, globally, unhappiness has been on the rise for the last decade.

Recent Gallup research found that emotionally, the second year of the pandemic was more draining than the first one. Stress, worry, and sadness plagued more people and set new records in 2021 for Gallup’s Negative Experience Index survey. Unfortunately, those negative feelings leak over into the work experience, too.

So what can you do to help improve employee wellbeing? Here’s a look at some simple ways to take charge of creating a healthier and happier workspace for your team:

Nowadays, many employees work remotely and the lines of when work ends and relaxation begins are quite blurred.

That’s where a workday shutdown ritual can be helpful.

Even if it’s as unceremonious as closing a laptop and putting it away, it’s a way to mentally and physically disconnect from work in a healthy way. By creating an end-of-day routine, workers can create a more restorative period of time off — whether it’s just for the evening or for a whole weekend.

 Here’s a look at why every employee should consider a workday shutdown ritual:

What do employees want?

By the looks of it, a four-day workweek is at the top of the list.

More than 90% of U.S. workers claim they’d want four-day workweeks, according to a January Qualtrics survey. Gone are the days when a traditional 9-to-5 worked for both employees and employers. Workers are shifting the way they want to work and if workplaces want to keep them happy, then dangling four-day workweek benefits may just work.

Below, discover the benefits of a 4-day workweek, studies on how it’s worked out in various countries so far, and the pros and cons of doing so in your own workplace.

Every company culture is uniquely created because of its leadership and the employees that make up the company. While every company’s culture looks different, there are some tell-tale signs yours is fulfilling and joyous.

Signs you have a positive team culture:

• Laughter happens daily on the job
• Candidates eagerly await job openings
• Employees are regularly engaged and excited
• Workers feel more like family than employees

So how do you build a positive team culture?

Gallup research shows that employees who feel cared for by leadership perform better. Forging solid relationships by making time to authentically connect is just part of the equation. Several qualities contribute to a positive team culture that gets team members excited about work. Below, we dive into those.

Here are 13 tips for building a culture your employees all love:

People who have never experienced anxiety before were introduced to it in a forceful way during the pandemic that started back in 2020. The virus and its trickle effect caused increased stress for many who were forced to isolate and changed the way they connected with others.

As the pandemic evolved and stretched on, the impact on mental health became quite clear —the World Health Organization reported a 25% increase globally in anxiety and depression. The lack of socializing impacted everyone from children to avid business travelers and everyone in-between.

Now, in the post-pandemic world, social anxiety, depression, and even OCD symptoms may be impacting your workers more than you know when it comes to re-entry back into the workplace. As the virus evolves and continues to infect people — even the vaccinated — again and again, these issues of mental health can’t be ignored.  

Here’s a look at how post-pandemic anxiety could be impacting your workers as they make their way back into the workplace on a more permanent basis.

Office policies can make or break a company. Making smart and healthy ones can ensure your employees thrive.

So, where does your own workplace stand when it comes to wellness policies?

Having several focused on health and well-being makes it clear that it’s important to your organization and culture to keep employees well. Popular ideas may include no smoking policies and related cessation programs or even a daily movement experience for everyone in the office to participate in.

If you aren’t sure where to start, below we outline five office policies worth trying that are focused on improving the health of your employees.

Even leaders need food for thought from time to time.

That’s when some inspirational quotes for leadership can help elevate your day in less than a few minutes. When you’re feeling inspired, you’re more likely to show up, do your best, and enjoy your work.

Plus, inspired leaders are the best leaders, as you’ll find out in our newest resource The Inspirational Leader Tool Kit. 

If you’re in the habit of reading positive content throughout your day, then you’ll likely enjoy this compilation of 52 inspirational quotes specifically aimed at leadership.

Read on for some quality quotes that will inspire you today.

Are your employees reporting more positive at-home COVID tests?

It’s probably no surprise. With the recent arrival of the at-home test options, more individuals are testing themselves if they’re feeling ill. More people will be traveling this summer across state lines and hanging out with large crowds and with loved ones, making catching COVID more likely.

So, what does that mean for workers coming back from vacation? When can they come back to work if they do test positive at home?

Below, we share the details on the at-home COVID tests and the most updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for isolation after that positive test comes back.

Hydration is important to keep in mind as it’s about to get incredibly hot in most places for summer. As it gets warmer, you’ll likely be more active outdoors and need to reach more often for your water bottle. Staying hydrated can help you feel your best while also avoiding heat-related illnesses

Water is essential to the body for a few reasons:

• It promotes cardiovascular health
• It keeps the body cool
• It cleanses the body
• It lubricates joints and muscles

Below, we pooled health experts’ knowledge to get you hydration myths and facts all in one spot. Learn the facts about hydration from experts like certified sports nutritionists, physiologists, and other wellness educators. They offer insight into how water isn’t the only way to hydrate the body, the truth about consuming too much water, and the advice surrounding the “eight glasses of H2O a day” saying.

Read on to dive into all you need to know about hydration as summer quickly approaches.