We’ve recently reported about how stressed out workers are costing UK businesses millions as more and more employees are having to take time off to cope with the pressures placed on them at work.

Whatever the cause of your stress, unrealistic deadlines, pressure from above or lack of support, there are ways to cope with the pressures, some of which we’ve put together below to help you deal with your stress and work more effectively at work:

Prioritise – If it’s your workload that’s weighing you down, take time at the beginning of every day or week and prioritise your tasks, so that you get the larger, more stressful jobs out of the way first. Working to a schedule should help you to break down your work into more manageable chunks, so your stress levels should decrease.

Recognise the symptoms – If you think you’re stressed then you should ensure that you recognise your symptoms and work on dealing with them. If left or overlooked, it could mean that your stress levels continue to rise and lead to you taking time off work, letting you fall further behind.

Work-life balance – Immersing yourself in work all hours of the day is a sure fire way to build up your stress levels, so it’s important that you ensure you take time off. When you leave the office, ensure you leave your work there as well and take time to relax and unwind.

Take your lunch break – To work full-time it is vital that you take regular breaks throughout the day, to keep your attention levels up and also to deal with stressful situations. Take your lunch break, go outside and take a walk, remove yourself from your working situation completely so that you can take time to recover from your busy morning.

Teamwork – If you work as part of a team, then your colleagues and managers are a great way to ensure you’re able to deal with stress. Working as part of a supportive team can help you to deal with your workload and pressures, as your workmates will support you.