How to Cope with Secondhand Stress

It’s a well-known phenomenon: Emotions are contagious. If your coworkers are constantly stressed out, you’re more likely to suffer. The good news is that there are many ways to keep secondhand stress at bay. For starters, surround yourself with positive people. After all, positive emotions can be just as infectious as negative ones. It’s also important to be empathetic toward colleagues who are struggling. By engaging them in constructive conversations — either to generate a solution to their problem or to shift the focus away from their stress — you have the opportunity to positively influence them. And yet empathy has limits. You may need to take strategic retreats from difficult colleagues from time to time. Finally, one of the best ways to ward off stress — be it second- or firsthand — is to take care of your health. Eat well, sleep well, and get plenty of exercise.