Whether the job you have is the one that you planned on since the day you were asked as a child, “what do you want to be when you grow up?” or just a job to pay the bills and take care of your family, work can be stressful. And stress is felt differently and at different levels for each person. Some people are much more sensitive to become anxious than others, and sometimes it can be difficult to manage. Deadlines, responsibilities, co-workers, clients, funds, the various aspects that can become overwhelming are endless. Stress can not only cause us mental and emotional anguish, but what many people don’t realize that it can also affect you physically. Since stress is somewhat of an unavoidable entity, it’s important that we at least know how to deal with it properly.
According to the AIS, 40% of workers reported their jobs were either very or extremely stressful, while about 80% of workers reported feeling stress on the job, and almost half of those respondents said they need help in learning how to manage the stress. It only seems that over time, the stress in the workplace is growing, and unless you’re lucky enough to be at the type of office that allows you to bring your dog to work and play video games throughout the day, then you need to make sure that you are acknowledging and addressing the work stress you may be experiencing.
Let’s take a look at some common sources of work stress…
- Excessive workload i.e. responsibilities, projects, etc.
- Low salaries
- Responsibilities requiring unfamiliar skills
- Few opportunities for growth and advancement
- Long hours
- Lack of breaks
- Little room for creative expression
- Work that isn’t engaging or challenging
- Lack of physical movement
- Long hours behind a computer screen
- Lack of social support
- Lack of control over job-related decisions
- Conflicting demands
- Unclear performance expectations
Now let’s talk about some of the ways to help you cope with these various stressors…
Sleep
It’s so important to make sure that you are getting enough sleep, regardless of whether or not you are stressed, but especially in the situation that you are under stress. Getting a full night’s rest gives your body the chance it needs to rest and reenergize, which is important for your mental, physical, and emotional health.
Diet & exercise
Another important thing to keep your stress levels down is to make sure you are eating the right foods. Keep your blood pressure intact and your heart in proper health by maintaining a healthy diet. More specifically, try and limit your sugar intake, especially the sugar that’s hidden in many drinks such as sodas and teas. And not the be the barer of bad news, but research has shown that diet soda really isn’t any better. On top of a healthy diet, regularly exercising will help keep your body’s levels in check as well as boost your endorphins and your metabolism, therefore improving your mood and your mental capacity.
Establish boundaries & know when to take a break
Know when too much, is too much. It’s important to not overdo it, and if you feel like it’s too much, know when it’s the right time to put your health first. It’s also important to take breaks. If you have an overload of work, don’t continue working through your break. You’ll actually end up working more efficiently later if you take a breather.
Stay organized
Staying organized can be difficult, but it will really help ease your mind. Try and keep your things, as well as your mind, in order, and this will in turn give your brain a bit of a break when new or more things come up.
Communicate
Talking about how you’re feeling is always helpful. Talk to your friends, your family, find someone who can listen and help you manage the stress you’re feeling. Some people find it difficult to communicate their work-stress problems with their family and friends; in which case, many people turn to a Carrolton stress therapist.
If you’re struggling with stress, the best thing you can do is figure out how to manage it before it turns long-term and affects your overall health. If you think you might like to look into stress management counseling in Carrolton, here at Lifeworks, we want to help. Don’t hesitate to contact us today, and let us help you start feeling more like you again.