Get Centered by Entering the Stress Free Zone!

Here at Datatrial, we consider our corporate culture to be a blend of professionalism and fun. We work long, hard hours in an effort to help you achieve success with your trials through our clinical data management and EDC software, but we also place a premium on building team spirit and camaraderie as well.

Even after our study delivery experts have helped reduce the stress involved in your clinical trials, it’s a distinct possibility that you’ll still have to deal with some stress related to your job. If that’s the case for you, don’t worry; Datatrial offers a baker’s dozen worth of helpful tips that can help you lower your stress levels at work.

 If the stress surrounding your trial is getting to you, spend a little time in our Stress Free Zone—and cast your worries to the wind!

• Dealing with Procrastination Can’t Wait Until Tomorrow

Almost all of us are guilty of putting things off. To nip this bad habit in the bud, there are a number of things you can do: create to-do lists, set realistic goals, learn to say no and ask for help. With better planning and more concrete goals, you’ll be celebrating your successes instead of giving yourself a guilt trip.

• Preparation Goes Hand in Hand with Accountability

Mastering the smallest of details and anticipating issues before they become problems will help you be better prepared to handle your responsibilities. Looking ahead will also help you to stagger potentially stressful events on your calendar so they don’t all happen at once.

• Happiness is a Choice

Believe it or not, stress often involves a personal decision. If you ask yourself whether a certain topic is worth getting worked up about or even if it will be a stressful point a year from now, most of the time the answer is no. Making an internal choice not to sweat the small things can make you a positive presence in the workplace.

• Push Pause … Then Breathe

Sometimes, reducing stress can be easy as counting to 10. Putting yourself in “timeout” and forcing yourself to breath through your noise can clear your head and put you in a calmer frame of mind.

• Bust Out of Your Cubicle

Giving yourself the freedom to take 5-minute breaks every now and again — can go a long way toward alleviating your stress. You’ll be surprised at how much it can help to simply go for a walk around the building, eat your lunch outside or even take the stairs from time to time. Not only will it put work out of your head for a few minutes, but the exercise certainly won’t hurt, either.

• Give Yourself—and Others—a Pep Talk

No one wants to work in an environment where all you hear is negativity, criticism and whining. Positive reinforcement is as important for yourself as it is for others, so take the time to give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done. A well-timed “kudos” e-mail or a friendly word of praise to a co-worker involves a small effort on your part—but can have a big impact on morale.

• Check Your Worries at the Door

Some of us have a hard time leaving work problems at work, while others let their home life affect their productivity in the office. Learning to separate the two is essential in sustaining a happy family life and a healthy career.

• Lighten Up

A sense of humor is an enormous asset in the workplace, and in some vocations, it should be a job requirement. Work a smile and a laugh into your daily routine—not only can it lower your stress, but it could also help turn a co-worker into a friend.

• Be an Active Listener

Learning to accept constructive criticism can be a difficult part of adjusting to office life for younger workers. By keeping an open mind and finding areas of agreement, you’ll avoid the tendency to get defensive and bristle when suggestions are made about your work. After all, most comments from above are genuinely designed to help you improve as a worker—which, in turn, makes your life easier and your stress level lower.

• Find a Comfort Level

Call it feng shui, ergonomics or anything else, but making your work environment you-friendly is key. You spend an awful lot of time at work, after all; ensuring that you’re comfortable while you’re there can make a huge difference in your stress level. So take it upon yourself to adjust the lighting, temperature, noise level and other controllable factors.

• Get More Sleep (At Home)

On the sitcom “Seinfeld,” George Costanza once made a habit of sleeping under his desk. Like most endeavors, it eventually backfired on George, and chances are it wouldn’t turn out well for you, either. Ensuring that you get the right amount of rest pays huge dividends in your ability to concentrate, boost your energy and reduce your stress.

• Find a Mentor, Be a Mentor

Discovering someone you look up to at work can make a dramatic impact on your work. Not only is it vital to have someone to learn from and bounce ideas off of in a low-stress environment, but it’s nice to have someone you can express yourself openly with. Conversation can be a good outlet if it’s constructive—so lend a sympathetic ear to someone else, and maybe they’ll return the favor.

• Be an Optimistic Person

There’s an old saying that goes, “Show me who you’re with and I’ll tell you who you are.” The chances are that if you surround yourself with negative people, they’re going to drag you down and make you negative—and stressed—as well. Complaining isn’t fun for the complainer, much less the listener, so spend your time with positive folks … you’ll be glad you did!

Hopefully, some or all of these tips will help you to remove stress from your In-Box. In the meantime, if you are interested in learning more about how we can apply our stress free approach to your trial, contact us today to speak with one of our stress free study delivery experts. You can also check out our case studies and white papers to see for yourself how our approach to clinical data management and our easy-to-use EDC software reduce our customers’ stress.