As a cleaning operation manager you are exposed to stress; there is no way around it. Your day to day activities and responsibilities are just natural sources of stress. Some stress is normal and studies have shown that low levels of stress can actually be beneficial; however, stress that becomes chronic and acute can have negative effects on your health.

Fortunately, there are several stress management techniques that you can utilize to help manage your stress levels. Making "stress management" a part of your normal lifestyle can help protect your physical and mental well-being. A few stress management techniques for you to consider:

Examine Your Working Environment - Stress Management at Work

Are you aware of what is causing your stress at work? Take an objective and holistic look at your work environment and try and identify those areas that create high stress. Those stress factors can be related to: activities, people, workload, specific responsibilities, etc.

Once you have identified your primary stress points you can begin to take steps to mitigate their impact. In some cases, just being aware of the stress triggers can be beneficial. That knowledge will allow you to take steps to either avoid those triggers entirely or to develop strategies to more appropriately respond to them.

Humor and Laughter

At times of great stress a simple chuckle can take the edge off of your anxiety. Try to take a bit of time out of your day to search for those things that make you laugh. Don't be too proud to laugh at yourself. Some of our stress can be related to our own sense of self-importance. Put yourself back in perspective with some good self-deprecating humor.

Watch What You Eat - Stress Management through Diet

The relationship between diet and physical health is well known, but, what about diet and stress? Some foods can create stress while others can help relieve it. Focusing on your dietary habits can help control your stress levels.

Pay attention to your intake of sugar, artificial sweeteners, processed carbs, caffeine, and alcohol. Too much of any of those substances can increase your stress levels.

Some stress-friendly foods to consider would include: nuts, fruits, dark chocolate, and foods that contain natural, non-processed, carbs.

Physical Activity - Stress Management through Exercise

Few things provide natural stress relief like exercise. When acute stress has you wound tighter than a clock, a half-hour or so of your favorite exercise will miraculously relax those clock springs.

Establish a workout routine that works for you. Make sure the routine is something that you can adhere to and that your objectives are realistic. Pick activities that you enjoy and that you will look forward to doing. Making this a long-term commitment is one of the most important things you can do to manage stress.

Following these stress management techniques will help protect your health, while also making your working life less tense and more enjoyable.