How to Manage Stress at Work
Stress has become a serious issue around the world, affecting as many as 595,000 people in the UK from 2017 to 2018 and costing employers over 15 million work days, according to the 2018 UK’s Labour Force Survey.
In fact, stress at work has become so serious that, according to the same survey, depression, one of the most direct consequences of stress, has now accounted for 44% of all work-related ill health cases. That’s almost 1 case of depression every two cases!
As stress becomes more and more prevalent, people around the world have adopted ways to combat this mental disease. One of the most notable efforts was the creation of Stress Awareness Month. Annually held in April, this event will help to raise awareness about many stress-related issues, including stress at work. As this year’s Stress Awareness Month approaches, let us take a moment back to understand more about stress at work and how best to tackle it.
Why do We stress at Work?
To start eradicating stress at work, you must understand why you are stressed. Here are some of the most prominent causes of stress at work.
- Long working hours are the first and probably the most important stressors. Working for an extended period of time wears out even the most enthusiastic employees.
- Long hours are often accompanied by a heavy workload. When faced with a heavy workload, especially if your deadline is tight, you are much more likely to stress out.
- A change in management could also be the cause of your stress, especially if the new management style is in direct conflict with your interests.
- Bullying and harassment at work can be a direct cause of your stress.
- If your workplace has an integrated blame culture, a culture in which workers tend to pass the responsibility ball around, then you are likely to get stressed.
If your current workplace is potentially harmful to your mental health, then maybe you should consider switching jobs or trying these coping methods.
What to do when you are stressed
It’s hard to avoid stress at work, so here are some things you could do if you are stressed out.
- Practice meditation: Mindfulness at work allows you to be more emotionally strong, preventing stress from taking over your mind. One of the best ways to practice mindfulness at work is to meditate.
- React healthily: Don’t aggravate your stress with alcohol or junk foods. Do some exercises instead. Not only do exercises help you to keep your stress in check but they also boost your health. This helps you have a strong body to fight off other ailments. Yoga is probably one of the best exercises for stress relief.
- Establish boundaries between life and work: It’s easy to feel that everything is urgent and you have to work constantly to meet your bosses’ expectations. However, it is a good idea to set a clear boundary between work and life. Set up no-email periods throughout the week to enjoy something, and you will feel much less stressed.
Understandably, we want to try our best at our job. However, as our mental health is as important as our physical health, do remember to try your best to keep your stress level at a minimum level when you are working. You will then find your quality of life gradually improving.