Don’t Let the Stress at Work Bog you Down Anymore – Handle it with Care
A little stress is actually considered good, it has a motivating effect and leads to a sense of satisfaction and wellbeing but when the levels of stress mounts and the individual is being pushed beyond their endurance levels, is where the trouble starts. Here is how to deal with it…
The lifestyles that we have today, specially living in the metropolitan cities, where we have to deal with situations from the moment you wake up to the time you call it a day. You step out of your homes you deal with the madness on the roads, finally when you reach your work place, where the real work starts; you are already on the edge. At work you have a million things lined up with meetings and deliverables taking up your entire day.
What causes stress at work?
Everything from excessive workload that makes you feel overwhelmed and to insufficient work that makes you feel inept and unappreciated can cause stress. Low salaries to lack of growth also are contributing factors to the increasing stress levels. Unable to cope with the ever increasing expectations of the boss, conflicting demands and even lack of support system at the work place can cause a person to have a difficult time at work.
Are the effects of stress detrimental?
The answer is, highly.
When an individual is facing high levels of stress, he carries that stress with him back home. This greatly affects the person’s family life. Most people develop insomnia. Sleepless nights further adding to the distraught state of mind the person is in. Loss of concentration and motivation at work, anxiety and depression are some of the effects that are seen on the person. It has also been seen that people tend to take up alcohol and other drugs to cope. Stress also causes psychosomatic disorders like gastrointestinal troubles, high blood pressure and even cardiovascular diseases.
Is having stressed employee a cause for concern for an organisation?
An unhappy, tired and demotivated employee is usually the result of an unhealthy working environment. A person under stress is unable to cope with the challenges of everyday work, is unable to take prompt decisions and might at times display inappropriate behaviour. This is a serious situation for any organisation because all this leads to not only a drop in productivity of the employees but also a loss of an experienced employee, if the employee seeks for other work opportunities and these ultimately affects the company’s turnover.
Ways to overcome high stress levels
Handling stress involves identifying your stressors and then taking various measures to cope. It involves incorporating these stress busters in your daily routine.
Some of the common methods suggested by experts which can be easily blended into our lifestyles without too much effort
Time management:
work over load is one of the main reasons for ever increasing stress levels among the working population. Planning the week and prioritising the work are ways to get the workload under control. Divide the work in small portions that can be done easily. Also make sure to keep the deadlines realistic. Don’t try to be a perfectionist. Achieving perfection is an impossible task. Have doable expectations from yourself and from people around.
There is no harm in asking for assistance.
If situation is going out of control then it is better to take help than make a blunder which would eventually add more to the pressure. Speaking to someone with experience can give you good insight into the problem.
Have good rapport and communication with your superiors and your peers.
Effective communication can help you reduce your stress as well as people around by being a good listener and sharing information. This will help build a more congenial and friendly atmosphere in the workplace.
Take regular breaks during your work hours.
Move away from the work area, take a walk or go have a cup of coffee, talk to a friend. These are small but quick and effective steps to de-stress during the work hours.
A good night’s sleep is a must when you are facing a lot of stress.
Sleep helps your mind and body to recover from the pressures of daily life. 7 to 8 hours of sleep is considered good. Right food and proper rest are very crucial elements in building a healthy lifestyle
Have a regular exercise routine.
Exercising is a good way to de-stress your mind and channelize your energy towards a physical activity. Half an hour of workout everyday can be easily incorporated in a daily schedule.
Social interaction is a must if you need a healthy mind.
Regular interaction with friends is usually a good way to handle stress. In a group of people you trust it is easy to share your thoughts. Voicing your troubles can help you vent out and doing that can have a cathartic effect.
Yoga and meditation have been found to be very effective methods to de-stress.
Yoga helps to draw in from your inner strength infusing fresh energy into your mind and body leaving you with a sense of wellness. Meditation has a similar effect. It helps relax the mind. It can be practised anywhere, be it home or while sitting in your office chair. Deep breathing is another quick and effective way to ease the pressure in your mind in a few seconds. Taking deep breaths and holding it for a couple of seconds and then releasing it will help relax the mind. This repeated a few times is most effective.
It’s impossible to have a stress free life. We will continue facing tensions and challenges everyday as long as we live. Hence it becomes imperative for us to build a lifestyle which balanced and healthy and helps us combat the difficulties that are thrown our way.
Blog Author
