Tips for Dealing with Stress Caused by Auditors

This is the time of year when deadlines start to loom and auditors are hovering over your desk with an endless barrage of questions. Needless to say, many people feel more stressed out than they normally would. However, there are a few simple things you can do every day to relieve that stress and even make work go more smoothly.

Organization and Planning:

  • Keeping prioritized “to-do” lists are an excellent way to keep track of the status of tasks as well as providing the satisfaction of accomplishment and relief when a task is “crossed off” the list.
  • Breaking down large tasks into smaller, more manageable tasks can relieve some of the stress of trying to tackle something that appears insurmountable.
  • Delegation (whenever possible) to a capable co-worker who has the time to assist in a project will lighten the load and make a task more manageable.

Exercise and Diet:

  • Many of us spend all day sitting in front of a computer and very rarely get out of our chair…getting out of your chair at least once an hour, stretching and going for a short walk around the office does wonders for your attitude and productivity. Try it and notice how refreshed and focused you feel all day long!
  • When you’re not at the office, try and schedule some time every day to do something active for just 30 minutes: take the dog for a walk, the kids to the park, take a class at the gym or do an exercise video at home. 
  • As busy as we all are, it is easy to grab a quick bite at a drive-thru during lunch or snag a doughnut with that morning coffee. For every unhealthy (but delicious) food you end up eating, try compensating with a piece of fruit as an afternoon snack or a salad for dinner. Extra sugary and fatty foods can cause sluggishness and add to stress levels.

Other Tips:

  • Whenever possible, schedule just a few minutes of time into your day away from the internet, TV, radio and others. Find a quiet, comfortable place to sit back and simply relax without thinking about work and those pesky auditors.
  • Try and get plenty of sleep…being well rested contributes to keeping the mind sharp and focused as well as being better equipped to deal with stress.

The first quarter of the year can be a stressful time, but with a little proactive stress management, everyone can benefit from a happier, healthier, stress-free work environment.

Disclaimer: The author of this article is neither a psychologist, exercise physiologist, doctor nor a nutritionist. However, she is an auditor who tries very hard to minimize any potential stressful impact from her audit visits.