If you are out of a job or worry over losing your job any day, or get anxious because things don't get done on time, or are scared for your personal life as your work takes up all your time and energy, or are tense because of bad relationships at the office - you suffer from "work stress".
It isn't unusual to get stressed over work once in a while.
But constant stress is dangerous.
It reduces productivity, affects you emotionally and physically, and negatively impacts people around you.
Lack of sleep, apathy towards personal commitments, tiredness, and drinking alcohol to cope, are some of the warning signs of stress.
Foods that help cope with stress Stress produces chemical changes in our body that can be countered by eating certain foods, such as:

• Citrus fruits: Vitamin C brings down blood pressure and cortisol levels that rise in a stressful situation.
  
• Sweet potatoes: Stress triggers an urge to eat sweets and carbohydrates to feel good temporarily.
  Sweet potatoes work better as they have vitamins, beta-carotene, and fiber to aid digestion of carbohydrates.
  
• Dried apricots: Eat these to bust stress and relax tense muscles.
  
• Turkey: This releases amino acids that trigger the release of feel-good brain chemicals that relax and calm you.
  
• Spinach: A cup of magnesium rich spinach fuels your energy needs for the whole day.
  
• Fish: Omega-3 fatty acids control stress hormones and help avoid cardiac problems.
  
• Avocados: Rich in potassium and monosaturated fats, avocados keep blood pressure stable.
  
• Green veggies and fruits: All the dark green vegetables - kale, broccoli, etc.
  , and fruits help our body replenish nutrients burnt out by stress.
  

Apart from that, you should eat small meals to keep your energy levels up, keep lethargy away, and maximize concentration so you can work better.
Avoid nicotine and alcohol.
They offer short-term relief but actually increase your anxiety levels in the long run.
Change your lifestyle and work style Whether you walk, jog, hit the gym, take up yoga, or just run up and down stairs - you need to include some form of exercise in your daily schedule.
This will sharpen your mind, relax and energize your body, and increase your productivity at the workplace.
Last but not the least, get adequate sleep.
A relaxed body can keep its emotional balance and manage stress.
If you are trying to fit in 20 hours of work in a 9 hour job, you need to learn some important ways of working - delegate, communicate, don't over-commit, prioritize, and take breaks.
Tools that can reduce stress If a tool can do something that saves time, effort, and eventually reduce your stress levels, go for it.
Some of these are:

• Postage meters: Instead of wasting time and energy on frequent trips to the post office, get a postage meter to weigh and meter letters and packages.
  
• Credit card processing: Improve sales and reduce trips to deposit cash and checks at the bank.
  Get a credit card terminal so that payments flow into your account directly.
  
• Launch a website: Publish details of your business, its services, contact information, complaint and feedback form, and all the information you typically divulge in phone inquiries.
  This way, you can bring down the volume of calls you receive.
  

You can reduce work stress by taking care of yourself, balancing your work and personal life, managing time, and offloading tasks to automated tools wherever possible.
It's good to want to succeed but you don't have to burn out in the process.