Tips for Developers: How to Lessen Stress?

The developers are some people who get a lot of stress from their work. The reason could be pressure due to deadline, bugs, insufficient response from clients, tension due to upcoming work load and a nagging boss.

This stress is actually very bad for health and can cause dementia, hyper-tension, eye problems (including dark circles), whiteness of hair, headaches and prolonged insomnia. The tension in your mind can also lead to other problems in your work itself and a severe loss in productivity!

So, being a developer myself, I will tell you certain ways that you can use to kill that stress away.

Just Chill However big or of mammoth proportions is your work at hand do not get scared of it. Just take it lightly as if it is a routine work. Assess what you can do and what you cannot -- analyze your limits before taking on a project. Even if you are just a junior programmer and have no choice but to complete this project; try to take it little by little and have patience. Remember that nothing is impossible.

Boss: "Why don't you listen carefully when told something?" This is a very common problem called bad communication. It is absolutely right that you cannot read somebody's mind but you can listen carefully and try to understand what they are saying. Especially when given instructions on a project, listen carefully and better keep a small notebook with yourself to note down important details. It is always embarrassing to call the client back asking about something you forgot in the last meeting.

Take a Break! We are human beings and not machines. As obvious as it may sound, many people fail to remember this fact! We have these little things called fatigue, boredom and apathy programmed into our DNA. We cannot get rid of them. So, better start learning about how to live with them. The best place to start is to take occasional breaks. Eat something light every two hours and drink lots of water.

Do Not Smoke Smoking is harmful that we all know. But smoking can also affect your work and temperament a lot. It causes dementia, early fatigue, sleepiness in daytime and insomnia at night (funny situation :D right!), problems in communicating with people and lots (I mean LOTS!) of toxins flowing in your blood. Some people smoke even after knowing that it's harmful because they seek to lessen their stress. But smoking will increase your stress. I was a smoker with first hand experience of all these problems. Thank heaven no more.

Entertain Yourself No, I don't mean watch belly dancing at work (though you might try that in Arabia :D your boss won't mind). But keep entertaining yourself and be cheerful even if your project deadline is at 6 p.m evening and it is 5 p.m already with your project not complete. Becoming irritated and worried is not going to help. I can promise you that there are always "competitors" in your workplace who would love to see you in pressure. Don't let them win! Try playing mine-sweeper now and then :)

Washroom's Calling You :D No, I don't mean that literally. I mean that a washroom could be your favourite place at times. It is a place where you can alienate yourself from work pressure for a few moments. Just wash your face and freshen up for the next session of work or meeting.

Bugs Will Survive a Nuclear War Even! That is true for bugs like cockroaches. But I also mean bugs in your software. Don't be frustrated by them. Bug hunting is something that every developer HAS to do now and then. Please get accustomed to this truth. Almost 90% of the bugs are created by our own stupid mistakes and 10% of them are contributed by Microsoft. Thank you Microsoft!! :D

Yoga A very old and effective way to kill stress. Do some easy ones in the morning just after you rise and shine and it will keep your body and mind healthy for the day.

So, take care of these little things and your life will become easier than the miserable one you are living right now. Just kidding. Bye :)