It's backed up by science: the time just after noon is the most stressful part of the workday. Listed below are five coping strategies.

Stress during the middle of the workday can impact productivity and creativity, reduce employee happiness, and even interfere with their family lives. According to a recent Groupon survey, 1:42 pm is the most stressful time of the day for employees. This is indeed quite strange. Survey participants said they experience similar levels of stress at home and at work.

This article outlines five ways to de-stress during the second half of the week, which can also help employees avoid stress at home.

1. Provide flexible working hours throughout the day

Many employees believe that the traditional 9-to-5 work schedule is a thing of the past, which means flexible work schedules are becoming more and more popular. A CareerBuilder survey of 3,244 employees in July found that 45% of employees surveyed said they get their work done outside the office.

Of course, working from another location can be a perk, but some employees clearly can't be separated from their work.

However, offering flexible work schedules throughout the day allows employees to choose when to complete their work tasks. Being able to choose to work when they are most productive may help reduce the stress they experience in the middle of the day.

When providing flexible work arrangements, employees should also be encouraged to take time off from work at specific times. Even not being on call 24/7 isn't a big deal, but smartphones and other technology prevent employees from realizing it. Let them know it's okay to step away from work and enjoy family life, which can help reduce the negative effects of afternoon stress.

2. Make time to exercise

By this time, 1:42 pm, most employees have been sitting at their desks looking at computer screens or office documents for hours. The National Center for Biotechnology Information conducted a survey of 56 employees in January 2015. The results showed that those who took a half-hour walk after lunch every week reported that their attention to detail, memory and concentration had improved.

Setting aside time for employees to exercise can give their bodies a boost and a break from afternoon stressors. It’s recommended to schedule workouts in the early afternoon when employees are most stressed, or a few hours before they go home.

The resulting rush of adrenaline helps them stay focused for the rest of the day, while also feeling a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day.

3. Assist and encourage employees to prioritize tasks in the morning

At noon, those employees who were always in a hurry still had a bunch of unfinished tasks and felt overwhelmed. At noon, we realized that half of the time had passed, but there was still a lot of work to be done.

In June 2015, Wrike conducted a work management survey of 1,464 business professionals and found that 94% of them knew how to manage projects, but there was no consistent project management method in their companies. The stress caused by poor project management reduces productivity and can spill over into home life because there is no sense of fulfillment at work.

Motivate employees to spend at least 15 minutes in the morning organizing their day. Provide assistance in prioritizing work. Making a checklist to check off will help employees feel prepared for the work ahead, rather than freaking out after lunch about the amount of work left on hand.

4. Discourage multiple tasks at the same time

In Wrike's work management report, multitasking is one of the biggest impediments to productivity. When emails keep pouring in and deadlines overlap, it can be difficult for employees to focus on one thing. By the afternoon, their brains have been overloaded for too long.

Employees are advised to prioritize their work and complete one thing at a time. In the afternoon, you can ignore emails when it suits you. Gadgets like Cabaana offer "gamified" and fun ways to help companies promote teamwork while guiding employees to communicate, prioritize and reduce stress.

5. Take a rest when work is not urgent

Worry about unfinished work drives many dedicated employees crazy. The thought of unfinished business in the office prevents them from relaxing at home.

What employees need to understand is what work can wait until tomorrow. At the same time, they should also understand that remaining work tasks does not mean they have failed at work. Practice an open management approach and let employees review their to-do lists before leaving get off work. Discuss which tasks should be completed that day and which can wait until tomorrow.

 

Translation: Xiong Xiaoping