--- title: 3 Steps to Minimizing Stress at Work description: There's an extra step at the end for immediate stress relief canonical: https://time.com/3672006/minimizing-work-stress/ author: Eric Barker article:opinion: true article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-01-19T05:01:05.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-03-31T08:08:04.860Z article:section: Ideas og:title: 3 Steps to Minimizing Stress at Work og:description: There's an extra step at the end for immediate stress relief og:url: https://time.com/3672006/minimizing-work-stress/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt57611c0c4e11887b/69877a6a524fc054f7debf4a/man-stressed-sitting-desk.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: man-stressed-sitting-desk og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: 3 Steps to Minimizing Stress at Work twitter:description: There's an extra step at the end for immediate stress relief twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt57611c0c4e11887b/69877a6a524fc054f7debf4a/man-stressed-sitting-desk.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # 3 Steps to Minimizing Stress at Work by [Eric Barker](https://time.com/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Jan 19, 2015 5:01 AM UTC  Stressed young man sitting at office desk Stressed young man sitting at office deskGetty Images by [Eric Barker](https://time.com/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Jan 19, 2015 5:01 AM UTC ## **1) Know What Really Works** Most of the things you instinctively do to relieve stress don’t work. Via [The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do To Get More of It](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1583334386/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- So what does work? --- > “” --- ## **2) It’s All About A Feeling Of Control** As is often said, stress isn’t about what happens to you, it’s how you react to it. This is true. We’re not as stressed when we feel in control. Again, the emphasis is on _feel_. Even illusory feelings of control can eliminate stress. (This is the secret to why idiots and crazy people may feel far less stress than those who see a situation clearly.) Anything that increases your _perception of control_ over a situation — whether it actually increases your control or not — can substantially decrease your stress level. Via [Your Brain at Work: Strategies for Overcoming Distraction, Regaining Focus, and Working Smarter All Day Long](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061771295/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0061771295&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- Why do people choose to become entrepreneurs when working for yourself often means more hours for less money? Control: --- > “” --- Do things that increase your control of a situation ahead of time. According to one study, the stress management technique that worked best was [deliberately planning your day so that stress is minimized.](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/whats-the-best-way-to-handle-stress) The best way to reduce job stress is to [get a clear idea of what is expected of you](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/how-can-you-significantly-reduce-job-stress). The trick to not worrying about work stuff while at home is to [make specific plans to address concerns before you leave the office](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/how-can-you-stop-worrying-about-projects-at-w). ## **3) You Need** **_Some_** **Stress To Be Your Best** Heavy time pressure stresses you out and [kills creativity](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/are-you-more-creative-when-theres-a-deadline). On the other hand, having no deadlines is not optimal either. Low-to-moderate time pressure produces the best results. Via [The Progress Principle: Using Small Wins to Ignite Joy, Engagement, and Creativity at Work](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/142219857X/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- In his book [The Art of Learning](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0743277465/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0743277465&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20), Josh Waitzkin discusses one of the key elements that pro athletes like Jordan use to perform at their peak: **spontaneous relaxation.** --- > “” --- They’re not Zen masters who experience no stress. Far from it. But they’ve taught themselves to turn it on and off. The pros are able to fully relax during the briefest periods of rest. This prevents them from burning out during hours of play. Via [The Art of Learning](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0743277465/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0743277465&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- ## **One Last Thing:** _I’m stressed RIGHT NOW!!! What’s the quickest, easiest thing to do?!?!?!_ Watching a video of a cute animal can reduce heart rate and blood pressure in under a minute. Via Richard Wiseman’s excellent book [59 Seconds: Change Your Life in Under a Minute](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307474860/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- Here you go: **_This piece originally appeared on_** [**_Barking Up the Wrong Tree_**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/11/3-steps-stress-proof/)**_._** **Join over 151,000 readers. Get a free weekly update via email** [**here**](http://eepurl.com/o6uAD)**.** Related posts: [How To Stop Being Lazy And Get More Done – 5 Expert Tips](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/08/how-to-stop-being-lazy/) [6 Things The Most Productive People Do Every Day](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/06/most-productive-people/) [New Harvard Research Reveals A Fun Way To Be More Successful](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/09/be-more-successful/) ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"OpinionNewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3672006/minimizing-work-stress/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3672006/minimizing-work-stress/"},"headline":"3 Steps to Minimizing Stress at Work","datePublished":"2015-01-19T05:01:05.000Z","dateModified":"2026-03-31T08:08:04.860Z","description":"There's an extra step at the end for immediate stress relief","url":"https://time.com/3672006/minimizing-work-stress/","keywords":["Psychology","Stress","Careers & Workplace","advice","work life balance"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt57611c0c4e11887b/69877a6a524fc054f7debf4a/man-stressed-sitting-desk.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Eric Barker","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/eric-barker/"}],"articleSection":"Ideas","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt57611c0c4e11887b/69877a6a524fc054f7debf4a/man-stressed-sitting-desk.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"man-stressed-sitting-desk","caption":"man-stressed-sitting-desk","creditText":"Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/ideas/","name":"Ideas"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/psychology/","name":"Psychology"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/3672006/minimizing-work-stress/","name":"3 Steps to Minimizing Stress at Work"}}]}] ```