Working in a construction site is a roller coaster ride. You never know when the next twists & turns will strike you. As a result, you often feel stressed. In fact, you’re not the only one; more than one-third of American experience chronic work-related stress, according to a study conducted in 2013 by the American Psychological Association (APA). Here we discuss 5 ways how construction project managers can keep stress at bay.

1. Develop a Routine

From hiring to schedule a meeting with the site engineer, there are loads of decisions that you take every day. Reduce the number of decisions you take. Develop simple routines. If there are certain tasks that you do every day, follow a routine. This will dramatically reduce stress. In an interview with Vanity Fair in 2012, President Obama talks about his way of handling stress. Here is an excerpt: “You need to remove from your life the day-to-day problems that absorb most people for meaningful parts of their day…You need to focus your decision-making energy. You need to routinize yourself. You can’t be going through the day distracted by trivia.”

Source: http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2012/10/michael-lewis-profile-barack-obama

2. Do something interesting

Working non-stop will ultimately burn you out and affect your productivity. Find time for yourself. A study published in Social Psychological & Personality Science in 2012 shows that developing hobbies help recharge your energy. If you enjoy any particular sport, play it or try developing a new hobby to beat stress.

Source: http://spp.sagepub.com/content/2/6/592.short

3. Make a to-do list

It is very important to set a rhythm and then go with it. Planning ahead is an effective way to reduce stress. Prepare a to-do list helps you develop a consistency in your workflow. It also helps you focus on the tasks that are most important and gives you a clear picture of the day. When you know what the day will bring on, you feel less stressed.

4. Take Prompt Action

Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon has his own unique mantra of beating stress. According to him, “stress primarily comes from not taking action over something that you can have some control over… I find as soon as I identify it, and make the first phone call, or send off the first e-mail… It dramatically reduces any stress that might come from it.” Problems can occur anytime during a construction project. When you identify a problem, take prompt action. Understand it and tackle it in a controlled manner. This will help you feel less stressed.

5. Practice Mindfulness

Apple co-founder Steve Jobs found this technique helpful in beating stress. Paying attention on the purpose without judging the situation clears your mind and helps you focus. Quoting Jobs, “If you just sit and observe, you will see how restless your mind is. If you try to calm it , it only makes it worse, but over time it does calm…your mind just slows down, and you see a tremendous expanse in that moment. It’s a discipline; you have to practice it.”

If you’re a construction executive, then we hope these useful tips from icons on beating work-related stress will make your life easier.

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