Realistically, there’s not a lot you can do to stop someone from having annoying habits. And unless they’re genuinely horrid and bad at their job, there’s probably no chance of them actively being removed from your workplace.

Your best bet is to take steps to reduce your own irritation levels and to mitigate the impact of feeling annoyed on a regular basis.

Exercise regularly (especially on office days)

“Move your body to move your mood,” says Paul. “Exercise can help lower levels of stress hormones such as cortisol and stimulate the release of feel-good endorphins.”

She’s not wrong: a study by Asics a couple of years ago found that not exercising has the same mental impact as a week of broken sleep. It also found that staying static reduced confidence, positivity and energy levels, and that it reduced people’s ability to cope with stress.

Get outside in nature

Getting outside often gives us an opportunity to take a fresh perspective – useful for reminding us that work is work and that a colleague doesn’t have to dominate our lives.

“There are so many powerful benefits of being in nature, one of them being that your vision becomes broader – it’s more panoramic,” Paul explains.

Can annoying colleagues have a long-lasting impact on your mental and physical health?