But what happens when the work at home career we've selected is to stressful?  What if your work at home job is a constantly ringing telephone, pressure to get more done in less time, a team of 'virtual' people who never do their jobs right and a computer network that's always down when you really need it?

Obviously, you'll want to make the most of your work at home opportunity to eliminate stress. Your first step toward taking the stress out of your work at home lifestyle would be to objectively and thoughtfully examine your work at home job to see if certain changes can be made to reduce your stress. Can you take calls during specified times and let calls go to voicemail during other times to reduce interruptions? Can you ask certain long-winded callers to email you instead to reduce time? Can you explain your limits to your boss and get them to back off of the endless pressure? Can you reduce noise annoyances in your work at home space?

Once you've made all the changes that are possible to your work at home jobs it's time to see what you can change about your work at home environment. Those of us with work at home jobs spend a lot of time at home so our environment should be conducive to both productive work and positive living.

• Eliminate any stressful situations about your workspace, such as inorganization
• 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.
  
• 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.
  
• 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.  Studies show that positive relationships with pets can enhance your immunity, reduce your stress and even extend your life.
• Talk to yourself (silently or not) and ask yourself if the things that are stressing you out are really worth getting stress out for. Five years from now, are any of these things going to matter? Don't allow yourself to react to things that are simply not important when you really analyze them.
  
• 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.  Take advantage of your flexible work at home lifestyle.
• Call a friend. Interrupt the stressful pattern so it can't build on itself.
  
• Drink some chamomile tea while you work at home. Chamomile tea is very calming and quite pleasing during stressful times. Most of us with work at home jobs can stop working and fix ourselves a cup of tea anytime we wish.
  
• In cases of sudden, extreme stress, 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.
• 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, 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 working at home enough we must consider whether or not we should simply find a different work at home employment opportunity. But consider that option carefully: home based employement and work at home job opportunities aren't quite as easy to come by as those traditional jobs we're not the slightest bit interested in anymore.

Some stress is good. Too much stress is bad.

We all experience more stress when we feel we have little or no control over situations. Learn and adopt the Serenity Prayer.

Remember that if we were under the same conditions in an office instead of having being able to work at home, we'd be even more stressed out!

Copyright 2004 Work-at-home-Labor-Force.net

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