If you ever wanted to test your practice of Stoicism the workplace may be the place to do it. Everyone doing the nine-to five grind has to deal with similar issues at work, the office politics, the great or not so great boss, hierarchical challenges, conflicts of interests, and miscommunication.

Expectations, deadlines, achievements, and goals can all add up to a bucket full of stress, more than you’d like to be carrying.

But at the same time you can excel in the work you do with the practice of Stoicism. Marcus Aurelius wrote in Meditations 9.12 Work not as one who is wretched, nor yet as one who would be pitied or admired: but direct thy will to one thing only, to put thyself in motion and to check thyself, as the social reason requires.

The practice of Stoicism can make anyone excel in their work. But it starts with reducing stress in the workplace.

Choosing ways to reduce the load is a great way to work smarter rather than harder. There  are ways you can reduce the pressures at work to lower your stress levels:

1. Recognize What You Can And Can’t Control

2. Breathe

3. Take Scheduled Breaks

4. Learn To Say, “No.”

5. Offer “Win-Win” Solutions