Stress in the workplace got you down?

Stress: Mental, emotional, or physical strain or tension. Check. America's number one health problem? Check. Loss of sleep, increased heartrate, dialated eyes? Check, check, check. Stress affects each and every one of us. With today's economy being the way it is, we're either stressed at work, or stressed about finding work. The biggest challenge is that it's completely individualized, what causes you stress, might not be stressful to someone else. But unless that stress is alleviated, long-term stress can create a number of physical ailments ranging from depression to heart disease and even higher susceptibility to illnesses like the flu or pneumonia.

If our main source of stress comes from work, it's safe to say we're the most stressed when we're at work. Is it the constant influx of emails and calls? An evil co-worker, perhaps? According to a poll produced by the American Psychological Association in 2011, only 52% of the population surveyed said their company makes them feel valued. If half of the population didn't feel their job was valuable, then that would definitely be cause for wanting to stay home in bed all day. On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the most stressful), a staggering 72% of the population rated their daily stress level to be a 4 or higher with the average being 5.21 percent.

In our (B2BGateway's) industry, stress is just the nature of the beast. I'm fortunate enough to work in an environment where the attitude is, "work hard, play hard." We're constantly looking for ways to keep morale high, so whether it's a Wii ping pong tournament, a luncheon or some free time-off for having met goals, we all know that at the end of the day, all of our hard work pays off.

So, are you ready to take the high road and ditch the stress? Here are some of the top stress busting tips from the International Stress Management Association, UK:

1. Avoid unnecessary conflict- Only fight battles really worth winning. Try not to sweat the small stuff.

2. Adopt a healthy lifestyle- Try taking a walk at lunch. Not only will the endorphins put you in a better mood, the fresh air will help to clear your mind. Also, try to lay off things like cigarettes and alcohol as one is a stimulant and the other is a depressant!

3. Accept the things you cannot change- If your co-worker is a jerk, it's likely that they'll always be a jerk. It might be painful but the results are almost always the same. Kill 'em with kindness, and you'll always look like the good guy (and you'll probably get some satisfaction out of it).

4. Take time to recharge your batteries- Whether it's grabbing a bite with friends or watching a cheesy soap opera on the couch, give yourself some time to unwind.

5. Try to find the underlying problem- Discovering what the problem is will bring you one step closer to a solution. Even the smallest steps to alleviate that stress could be the answer to making your whole quality of life that much better.