Managing Workplace Stressors
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Stress is part of life. Whether you’re working remotely or you’re back in the office, you’re bound to experience stress at work. Stress can be dangerous when it is excessive. Learning to manage work-related stress is a key component in your mental well-being.
Normal Stress To a certain extent, experiencing stress is considered normal. It’s part of daily life, and it serves various functions, some of which are beneficial. For example, a small amount of stress may help you meet deadlines, perform to expectations, or arrive for time to an appointment or event. Some stress is necessary for survival because it allows human beings to access flight or fight instincts and spontaneous decision-making skills, especially when faced with challenging or dangerous situations. Dangerous Stress Stress becomes dangerous when it’s prolonged, exceeds normal levels, or both. When stress is both overwhelming and ongoing, it is chronic. Chronic stress can lead to:
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There are many steps you might consider taking to make stress in the workplace more manageable.
Why Work is Stressful
While it’s true that stress is ingrained in every facet of life, many people identify the workplace and work-related stressors as their primary source of stress. There are many reasons that work may be stressful ranging from long hours and high demands to lack of support, poor work culture, or even interpersonal conflict. Many of us feel a strong connection between our identity and who we believe we are, and the work we do. For that reason, when work is not going well for whatever reason, it can cause incredible amounts of stress that easily become chronic.
Identify those Stressors!Before one can start doing the work that is needed to reduce work-related stress, they must identify the major stressors. Stress is not a shared experience. It’s personal, so be sure to try to identify major stressors so that you can address them. To identify stressors:
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When you have a pattern of events, you can start to delve into the root cause of the stress. For example, if you notice that you feel stress each time your leader assigns a deadline, it’s likely because you feel some sort of apprehension about meeting the deadline. But is that apprehension because you don’t have the resources required to do the job within the time frame? Or is it because you fear you may be let go if you miss a deadline? While you feel stress due to the deadline, the cause of the stress may come from various roots.
Reducing Stress at Work
Unfortunately, work is very unlikely to be stress-free at any point in the near future. But there are many steps you might consider taking to make stress in the workplace more manageable.
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Change Stressors Where You Can
If it’s possible, try to enact change. For example, if the source of your stress is rooted in a lack of resources, ask for more resources. If the stress is a result of conflict, ask for a mediation meeting. There are many small changes that may help reduce or eliminate the most troublesome workplace stressors. Set Boundaries and Limits If long hours, constant email, or off-the-clock fretting is the primary stressor, set boundaries. Most email programs now come with settings that allow you to choose “do not disturb” hours each day. More and more professionals are using this as a way to protect their work-life balance. If you’re putting in a lot of extra unpaid time, discuss either remuneration or a reduction in workload to ensure you are properly compensated for your time. Learning to say no when you don’t have the bandwidth for more is both a respectable and necessary interpersonal skill. Communicate Sometimes workplace stress can be reduced simply by getting more resources, access to information, or better technology. However, without communication, your employer may never know that you’re experiencing stress simply because you don’t have the tools to do your job. Be sure to always communicate your needs and give leaders the chance to support you as needed. |
Implement Strategies that Work
What works for one doesn’t work for all, but everyone needs strategies that work to keep stress at an acceptable level in the workplace. For example, if to-do lists help you stay focused and feel less stressed out about what needs to be done, use them. If you prefer spreadsheets, use those. Perhaps, you’re a big picture person and prefer project management software so that you can visualize the big picture and then break the end goal down into manageable chunks. Whatever it is, implement some sort of system that is designed to take the stress of managing daily tasks off your shoulders. Be Mindful Many mindfulness activities can help reduce daily stress. For example:
Most workplace wellness programs include options to help employees reduce their stress at work, such as fitness programs, on-site stretching and massages, and Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs). Wellness programs increase retention, and they can be powerful recruitment tools. Worker wellness programs can vary, are totally customizable, and are worth the effort! Learn More about the benefits of wellness programs. |
Trust MidSouthWest Training and Consulting
MidSouthWest Training and Consulting offers online Workplace Stress Awareness Training and Resilience and Stress Management Training. You can trust MidSouthWest Training and Consulting to provide you with cost-effective training solutions tailored to meet your organization’s unique health and safety needs.
To learn more, contact us online or call 289.309.1143. Visit us 24/7 on the web at midsouthwest.ca.
To learn more, contact us online or call 289.309.1143. Visit us 24/7 on the web at midsouthwest.ca.
Last updated Oct 12, 2021
