Stress in the workplace is unavoidable especially in certain professions. Certain jobs lend themselves to high levels of stress, but there are different ways that people can deal with it. It could be caused by a boss who is very demanding, or a coworker who doesn’t pull his or her weight. Maybe you have a typically stressful position, such as medicine or law. While some stress on the job can drive you to succeed and be healthy, too much can be very bad. It can cause many health problems and be detrimental to your overall wellbeing.
Because of this, it is important that learn effective stress management techniques for the job. While many stress-inducing factors may be out of your control, like dealing with you boss, there are ways to cope that could save your life.
The average number of hours of work has gone up eight percent in one generation to 47 hours a week. One out of five Americans work as much as 49 hours a week. This can be a great source of stress, not just at work, but at home too. A high rate of divorces is credited each year to the long hours people are spending at work.
It is important to realistically assess the hours you work each week. Can you cut back and still get the job done? Can you delegate your tasks to co-workers? Can you develop a more flexible schedule? If you consider these options, your job-related stress can diminish significantly.
Overworking can cause many health problems. You might become sick more often, which will force you to call in sick at work. Work absenteeism is costing American companies a lot of money, which makes workplaces less productive.
Americans also feel a great deal of stress because they no longer feel secure in their jobs. Layoffs and company bankruptcies have exploded in recent years and Covid-19 pandemic has just compounded the situation. With very little job security, employees live in constant fear that they will not have a job the next day. And because of this, people worry about their retirement funds. It is because of these factors that employees now have little loyalty to their employers, stress for all parties involved.
Some coping strategies for stress at work include:
1) Understand what the causes of stress are for you at work.
2) Make a wellness action plan.
3) Learn different coping techniques.
4) Try practicing mindfulness.
5) Look after your physical health.
Because the workplace climate has changed, it is important that our own outlooks change as well. Employees need to try to reduce their stress, even though they might not feel secure in their jobs. That might mean opening a separate retirement fund and making regular contributions toward retirement. If you work on being proactive, chances are your stress levels will decrease. Face the fact that you are in charge of your destiny, and take control of your future. You will feel a sense of freedom, and less unhealthy stress.
