When the pressure heats up at work, so might your stress levels. While some stress can be motivating, large amounts — especially long term — can be detrimental to your health.

Reducing your stress levels is key to managing the pressure at work as well as in your home life. Taking steps to lower your stress by incorporating exercise and scheduling time for yourself are just some ways you can decrease stress’s impact, as well as increase your enjoyment of your time at work, even when things can seem overwhelming.

Coaches share a few approaches you can use when facing stress.

1. Find time to do something you enjoy

We don’t all have the same stressors. One thing that I find is helpful is to make sure you find time, at least every few days, to do something you enjoy — cooking, reading, running, whatever it is. For me it’s music. I love to swing dance, and when I’m starting to go down that rabbit hole of stress, I put on something I love to listen to and dance.

2. Identify and embrace your flaws

Embrace your flaws and do what makes you happy! I’ve learned that my flaws helped me become a better leader. And that you can’t fake it till you make it, as it relates to your happiness. Identify your flaws and match your strengths around your passion and true career identity. This practical strategy can reduce stress and promote a healthier, more fulfilled career life.

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3. Smile more

To reduce stress you should smile more, because smiling releases chemicals that help the body combat stress. It doesn’t matter whether the smile is real or fake, you still get the benefit. Also, when you smile at people, it usually results in them smiling back which helps to create a friendlier atmosphere.

4. Improve time management skills

Time management has been the single most powerful stress reducer for me. It sounds like a small thing, but scheduling strategic blocks of time devoted exclusively to specific tasks, speeds up productivity and efficiency. Having a master plan helps alleviate stress as well, so it’s an all-around win, and simple enough to implement immediately.

5. Shift to a learner’s mindset

Modern-day professionals fight hard to claim their place and make it count. I encourage professionals to make a shift from a judge’s mindset to a learner’s mindset by asking powerful, important questions. Conscious use of language helps in creating positive neuropaths and a resourceful emotional state. Lastly, consistent meditation stills the mind and clears it of toxicity.

6. Simplify your life and schedule

Stress is mostly created by us taking on too many things and overwhelming ourselves, which leaves us with little clarity on how to move forward most effectively. In order to reduce stress and increase productivity, we want to simplify our life and schedule. Take on one or two main agendas for each day, prioritize intentional breaks, and leave enough time during the day for unexpected interruptions.

7. Think of your body as your best app

We are all under a great deal of stress, and this will only continue exponentially. A simple way to manage stress is to tap into your body and use it as your best app. Our bodies are always in the present moment, whereas our minds can be far off in a multitude of places past or future. Focus on your breath for 10-15 minutes and be in the feeling of your breath. Experience it fully.

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