As many as one-fourth of employees report that their jobs are stressors, and job problems If you experience job stress, learn how to handle it so that you can stay healthy and happy at work.
Side Effects of Job Stress
Infrequent job stress is uncomfortable but usually doesn’t cause long-term problems. However, chronic job stress leads to more health complaints than financial or family problems. You could experience headache, tension, fatigue, short temper, upset stomach, insomnia, decreased productivity and low attention span because of job stress, and it has been known to cause cardiovascular disease, impaired immune function, ulcers, cancer, psychological disorders and workplace injury.
Identify the Causes of Job Stress
Numerous challenges contribute to job stress, and conditions that bother you may not affect your co-workers. Before you can find a solution for your job stress, identify the triggers, which could include:
- Tight deadlines
- Heavy workload
- Staff shortages
- Poor morale
- Personnel conflicts
- Difficult clients
- High performance expectations
- Long hours
- Insufficient instructions or micromanagement
- Infrequent breaks
- Poor communication
- Job insecurity
- Few opportunities for advancement or promotion
- Rapid policy, staff or leadership changes
- Unpleasant or dangerous working conditions
Learn Coping Skills
Once you identify that you’re experiencing job stress, don’t ignore it. Learn coping skills that help you address your specific job stress in an effective manner. Meditation, assertiveness, time management or walking away from conflict could reduce the stress you feel. Your company may also offer a stress management program that includes trainings on how to deal with personnel conflicts, communicate more effectively or reduce anxiety.
Take Care of Yourself
Exercise, a balanced diet and meditation are three ways you can care for yourself and resolve some of the daily stress you feel. You may also visit your doctor for more stress management tips and talk to a trusted friend or therapist as you reduce stress.
Talk to Management
You’ll also want to address the root causes of stress, which may include poor management or staff shortages. Brainstorm ways to reduce your excessive workload or expectation conflicts with your supervisor or HR manager as you attempt to decrease job stress for you and your co-workers.
Perform Regular Job Stress Assessments
You’ve learned how to handle stress and talked to management, but that doesn’t mean your job stress disappears. Perform regular assessments that identify when and why you’re stressed and what you can do about it. Continue to take steps toward improving the things you can control and addressing or letting go of what you cannot control.
Even if you love your work, you will probably experience job stress sometimes. Take action to deal with it appropriately so that you stay healthy.
