Managing Anger in the Workplace

Start Taking Better Care of Yourself

Make sure you’re getting enough sleep and exercise. Eat well, selecting healthy foods, but don’t eat too much. Drink lots of water and less coffee and liquor. If you smoke or do drugs, stop. The better you feel physically, the less susceptible you will be to anger. Lack of sleep, health problems, alcohol consumption, and drug use all increase the likelihood that even small annoyances will provoke your anger. In the long run, feeling good physically will contribute to a healthier approach to anger and make harmful anger less likely.

That said, you also need time alone to think and relax. Schedule personal time for just thinking—not watching television, reading, doing chores, or anything else.

Finally, take ...