6 Smart Ways to Reduce Employee Stress And Boost Productivity

An employee is the backbone of your business and there is no doubt why you should think about him. Often employees feel stressed out at work which as a result decreases their productivity. But we are listing out a few steps on how to increase productivity that makes workflow move seamlessly.

Scrambling to meet deadlines

responding to the slew of phone calls, bothering about the issues at home, ooh! You get the point, right? STRESSED out.

Industries are driving with the “do more with less” motto in this digital world. Many companies often examine their assessment of performance and work on how to increase productivity for the upcoming days. But do they care about employee well-being which has a huge impact on the overall success of a business? 

According to “the European Agency for Safety and Health, it is found that 550 million working days are lost every year in the U.S from stress-related time off.”

Stress naturally comes in the workplace which leads to havoc. Stressed workers are associated with complications such as a headache, hair loss, high blood pressure, and cheerlessness which ultimately result in decreased productivity. So, here I am breaking down the ways you could reduce employee stress and how increase productivity:

1. Open Door Policy

You would be surprised at the amount of stress that germinates from a lack of communication. Aspiring for a day off after a date with a critical deadline is a common urge among most employees. There should be no hesitation on the part of the employees in asking for a well-deserved break.

Open communication should be available for any concerns or questions to ease the uncertainty. Encourage employees that you are all ears, which will considerably help in boosting morale as well as the performance of the staff. 

2. Throw cold water on multitasking

Many studies have proven that multitasking actually reduces performance and can even damage your brain. Multitasking is detrimental to productivity at work, mate. Many people tend to act as if they possess a “special gift” of doing several things at once assuming that they are saving time.

An employee's productivity is directly proportional to his/her brain activeness. But studies say that people who multitask are actually worse at multitasking as the brain can focus on one thing at a time. Ouch! When you are attempting to do more than one thing at once your brain lacks the capacity to switch from one task to another.

3. Set clear goals

It is imperative to be transparent about an employee's role in an organization. Employees might know what they are hired for, but they might not know what could be expected or why they are supposed to take care of certain duties.

Hence, make sure your employees understand what is expected rather than stressing them out over irrelevant things.

4. Eliminate Distractions

Eliminating distractions is not as easy as it sounds. Have you ever been in a position where you are completely indulged in work when your insidious phone beeps with social media updates or hits the floor blaring in the background on the radio? We have all been there. Isn’t it? Distractions come in various forms that sidetrack your workflow.

Note, however, that eliminating distractions doesn't mean you shouldn’t take breaks. Taking breaks allows you to relax and mentally recharge. If you want to try a quick word unscrambling game or play a game of Hearts, don’t consider that as a distraction. It can help improve your energy level and keep you productive.

A meme or a forwarded joke on WhatsApp might act as a stress relief tool but you feel like scrolling more once you get captivated by one. You browse through all your high-school crush profiles, stalk your ex, update your status on Facebook and the list is endless. What you have not done is work. Behind food and bathroom breaks, chit-chatting with co-workers, and scrolling the newsfeed of social media platforms has taken the 4th rank. 

5. Right for Right Tools

It is not about how many high-tech tools you are using, it is about what tool you are using to enhance the efficiency. It does not make sense to expect productivity without the right tools. Some companies are still getting lost in the rabbit holes without upgrading or ignoring the innovative tools available in the market now.

Ever heard of office chat applications that are changing how things get done? They connect all the employees in one place where they are authorized to share their views. Along with that, highly configurable extensions like StayFocusd aids you to stay focused by restricting the amount of time you spend on time-wasting websites. The more you have control over time, the more productive you would be. 

6. Move your bodies

Well, we all are aware of the fact sitting constantly is not good for health. However, many of us just brush it off. On a typical day, an employee sits at a desk for 8-10 hours. The mind cannot function at an optimal level without the body being active. Just like you allocate time to certain people and things, it is essential to allocate a minimum of thirty minutes to move your body.

Encourage employees to go for a short walk during lunch break. Thank me later. But, you can sense that employees are working more smartly with a renewed sense of energy which obviously boosts the employee productivity.

These simple yet effective steps could help you how to increase productivity by reducing the stress level of your employees. Happy employees can only bring happy clients. After all, they are the foundation of your business. So, still, thinking to implement? If you think your employee is too stressed from work, give them a vacation and advise them to get some help from a psychiatric service like Pacific Psych Centers and Behavioral Collective.

Conclusion

Prioritizing employee well-being is crucial for enhancing productivity and reducing stress in the workplace. By implementing smart strategies such as promoting work-life balance, providing clear communication channels, offering opportunities for growth and development, encouraging physical activity, fostering a positive work environment, and promoting mental health initiatives, employers can create a supportive and productive atmosphere. By investing in the well-being of their employees, organizations can not only boost productivity but also cultivate a culture of engagement, satisfaction, and long-term success.