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Do you sip your morning coffee in traffic dreading each inch you draw closer to the office? Does everything annoy you even though it shouldn’t (besides that woman in HR who sends you a new company policy each week)?

If so, you aren’t alone. According to the American Psychological Association, 65% of Americans cited work stress as their top worry. If that weren’t enough, the CDC found that up to 40% are “extremely stressed”.

We all need to chill out a bit. Stress might make it seem like the world is falling, but in reality, it’s pretty simple for employees (and companies) to get a grip on things. We’re going to teach you how to deal with stress at work with a mix of old-school techniques plus a few new and exciting ideas.

Here we go:

How to Deal with Stress at Work: Tips for Employees

OK, we get it. You aren’t getting paid enough, feel like you’re stuck at a dead-end job, and nothing you do is exciting or challenging. But chances are changing your job isn’t easy. It might not even be an option at all.

So here are a few tips on coping with stress:

1. Start Your Day Off Right: Think about your morning. Does this sound familiar: “I don’t know what on Earth is wrong with me. I slept almost 4 hours last night, rushed my kids off to school, downed a large frappuccino, and still managed to make it with 3 minutes to spare!”. Try to get a healthy amount of sleep and eat a healthy snack for breakfast. Keep sugary drinks to a minimum. Can’t sleep at night? Exercise to tire yourself out!
2. Act on Your Stressors: First, keep the mindset that there are things outside of your control. Macro forces, such as company direction, are things you simply cannot change. However, there are stressors that you can control (sleep, diet, conflicts, etc.). Do your best to identify and change these for the better and accept what you cannot change.
3. Forget Multitasking and Eliminate Interruptions: The study that says the average employee is interrupted 7 times per hour underestimates the real number by 100% or more (a bit dramatic). Do whatever you have to do to eliminate them. For example, shut your door when it’s time to get down to business, tell people you only answer emails within a certain window, or schedule frequent breaks to chat with others (more on breaks next!). And multitasking? Forget it. Complete myth.
4. Take Frequent Social Breaks: You should take at least a few 15-minute breaks a day and socialize with coworkers. If you’re feeling really tired consider taking a quick nap. If you aren’t, then play a game with colleagues, chat about what’s stressing you out, and have a good laugh. We are all in this together. We can do this!

How to Deal with Stress at Work: For Companies

Coping with stress shouldn’t be only the employee’s responsibility. Happy employees make happy clients, and happy clients make….OK, you get the picture. Creating a less stressful work environment will go a long way toward making your company more productive and profitable.

So here are a few tips on reducing stress:

1. Set Clear Goals: A lot of your employees’ stress comes from uncertainty. They have so much to do that they don’t even know where to start. You’d be surprised at how much it helps to have a clear direction, both in the macro and micro sense. For example, laying out strategic goals for the year will help remind them that everything they do has a purpose. A daily goal will help employees focus on what they need to do that day. Even completing that one goal will give your employees a sense of accomplishment and reduce stress.
2. Allow for Flexible Working Hours: Work-life balance is more important to Millennials than anything else. Remember: it’s not how long it takes you, it’s what you get done. Having technology in place to give your employees home office options is a great way to keep them healthy and happy.
3. Have Fun!: Nothing stresses people out more than a dull, intimidating office. Spruce the place up a bit and add some games, a fun and interactive game room, and a lounge with free coffee. Make sure to allow frequent breaks and even organize meetups or after work events. Speaking of that…
4. Team Building: Conflicts, isolation, and lack of communication are big stress triggers. Monthly team building events outside of working days is a great way to create loyalty amongst employees and foster stress-killing relationships. Sometimes coping with stress is as easy as talking to someone else in a similar situation. One of the best ways to deal with stress as an employer is to show your employees that you care.

Is stress hurting your life or your business? Stop it! Use these 8 tips to learn how to deal with stress at work and defeat it in the office for good. Remember, it doesn’t matter how many new company policies are sent to your inbox each day. We are going to make it through this!