The frenzy of the 2015 holiday season is fast approaching. With tight work deadlines, holiday commitments and endless shopping lists, it’s easy to get stressed out. Inspired by the Meridian Health Fair Day that took place in our office this week, I went out in search of this week’s top articles on reducing workplace stress and increasing productivity.

In case you missed it (ICYMI), here’s how to manage workplace stress and avoid careless mistakes in the workplace during the holiday season!

How to stay focused at work during a stressful holiday season

The holidays are just as stressful as they are fun. With work projects wrapping up and new ones on the horizon, it’s hard to maintain a clear and calm mindset — especially with travel, holiday and shopping plans taking over your to do lists! To help you stay cheerful and productive, Mashable put together a list of three ways to stay focused during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.

1. Don’t give into interruptions. Guess what? Multitasking doesn’t work. It actually kills your productivity. Don’t give into distractions this holiday season. Mashable recommends you constantly remind yourself that interruptions are going to dramatically increase over the holidays, but it’s important to remember not to give into them. Focus on the task at hand and you’ll be far more likely to get through the day without anything falling between the cracks.
2. Look for the right projects. The holidays are a great time to catch up on email and work on self-guided projects, according to the article. With colleagues out of town for the holidays, you can take advantage of the peace and quiet and focus on some of the bigger projects on your workload.
3. Be thoughtful about your off hours as well. We often forget that scheduling time for our non-work commitments is just as important as scheduling time for our work-related commitments. It’s tempting to work extra hours before taking time off, which isn’t always healthy. Try to avoid overtime if you can. And don’t forget, holiday shopping takes time!

Read the full article for some more great insights on how to have a stress-free holiday!

Unique ways to burn off stress

Job-related stress is costing us an estimated $300 billion a year. It wreaks havoc on our minds and bodies. As more and more research is released about the damages of work-related stress, companies are looking to innovative ways to battle anxiety and increase happiness at work. This week, Fast Company put together a list of some of the innovative ways organizations are proactively managing stress.

1. Workplace venting sessions. One company put together a weekly venting report where employees could anonymously publically submit frustrations. They also held a meeting once a month where they could address the issues.
2. Offering one-on-one attention. Another organization hired stress management coaches to offer employees specific techniques that address their individual needs.
3. Mindfulness on demand. Google takes it a step farther by offering specific classes like, Meditation 101, Search Inside Yourself, and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. They even created a virtual and in person community called gPause that encourages mediation and stress-reduction.

Check out the full article for some more funky examples of reducing stress at work!

10 mistakes you might be making in the first 10 minutes of your workday

I bet you didn’t realize how much the first 10 minutes of your workday set you up for success (or failure). Business Insider, did some research on some of the common mistakes we make at the beginning of the day. Here are 10 traps that are keeping you from success:

1. Getting in late. This is obvious, being late will certainly throw you into a tailspin.
2. Not greeting your coworkers. It’s important to be friendly, or you’ll come off unapproachable.
3. Drinking coffee. The best time to drink coffee is 9:30 am, when your cortisol levels are declining and you’re more likely in need of a caffeine boost.
4. Answering every email in your inbox. Before you start responding, scan and prioritize your inbox!
5. Launching into your work without a tentative schedule in mind. A prioritized to do list is the only way to make sure your day and workload doesn’t go sideways.
6. Doing the easiest task first. Save the easy stuff for when you’re suffering from the 3 o’clock feeling, you’re much more prepared to tackle the big projects in the morning.
7. You can’t devote 100% of your brain to three different tasks at once.
8. Dwelling on negative thoughts. Leave the negative thoughts about your soul-sucking commute at the door. Dwelling on them all day will kill your mood and productivity.
9. Having a meeting. According to experts, morning tasks should be focused on things that take a lot of brainpower, like writing. Dedicating that precious time to meetings will throw your brain off.
10. Not following a routine. Healthy habits and routines help your brain save mental energy.

Check out the complete article packed full of good research on how to start your day off on the right foot.