Stress is not always bad. In fact, a little
bit of stress can help you stay focused and challenged. It can also keep you on
your toes during a pitch or alert you to prevent any accidents or costly
mistakes.
But in today’s busy world, stress seems to be an essential part of the workplace, which gives most, if not all of us, an emotional roller coaster. Think about tight deadlines, multiple jobs, and the ever-increasing demands that can leave you feeling worried, drained, and overwhelmed.
However, when stress exceeds your ability to cope, it stops being helpful and starts causing damage to your mind and body as well as to the way you view your job.
Did you know that according to studies, 40% of workers reported that their job was very or extremely stressful? If the stress on the job is interfering with your work performance, health, or personal life, it is time to take action.
No matter how big your current role is, what your goals and ambitions are, or how stressful your job is, there are plenty of things that you can do to reduce your stress levels and regain a sense of control in your life.
Read on to find the common causes of workplace stress, why it’s so harmful, and essential tips to cope with workplace stress.
What Causes Stress in the Workplace?
Causes of workplace stress vary among industries and roles, but many overlap. Some of them include:
Downsizing
A company experiencing cost-cutting often leads to downsizing. Every worker experiences stress from the fear of losing their job. This is especially true if they are aware of the company’s plan to downsize due to a bad economy or crisis, or particularly if they see others around them getting the notice.
Tons of workload
When there are layoffs, other employees are required to take the extra load, which is both physically and mentally exhausting. Salaried workers may find themselves putting in long hours to get the work done without the benefit of overtime, and hourly workers may be forced to work harder to get their job done. Whichever the case, it’s stressful.
Pressure to perform
A workplace that focuses heavily on measuring performance and productivity might not realize that those things are putting stress on workers.
Longer work hours
According to research, employees who pull in longer hours suffer various health problems based on the type of work they do. They have a higher risk for heart disease, diabetes, and weight gain. As they say, unhealthy workers don’t combat stress well, the two compounds each other, with stress causing health issues and health issues feeding into stress.
Issues with coworkers
Working enables us to spend nearly as much time with coworkers as our friends and family (if not more).
If you don’t get along with the people you work with or do not fit the culture of the company, this can cause anxiety, low productivity and morale, and emotional stress.
Why is Workplace Stress so Harmful?
When workplace stress accumulates, its impact can be detrimental to employees. It may even lead to:
Sickness
Stress affects your overall health. It has physical repercussions, and lots of workplace stress leads to sickness, which can lead to absenteeism or higher health insurance costs for employers.
Depression
If you do not have good coping strategies, your stress can lead to depression.
Violence
According to studies, 25% of employees have felt like screaming at a coworker because of stress, while 14% have felt like hitting one. Stress puts employees on edge with each other in a dangerous way.
Reduced productivity
If you’re stressed out, you’re not going to be productive. You’re going to think about the things that are stressing you out, you’re going to be defocused and would likely be missing deadlines.
Problems at home
When work is stressful, it tends to affect the employee’s personal life. It can compound, and employees can bring home stress and then back to work.
Retention problems
19% of workers have quit a job because of the stress they felt at work. If the job is too stressful, you’ll lose employees.
Ironically, your best employees may be the ones to go because they have been given more responsibility and a higher workload. They may get the work done, but the stress is burning them out.
When you feel overwhelmed and stressed at work, you lose confidence and may become angry, irritable, or withdrawn. Here are the other signs and symptoms of excessive stress at work:
● Feeling anxious, irritable, or depressed
● Apathy, loss of interest in work
● Problems sleeping
● Fatigue
● Trouble concentrating
● Muscle tension or headaches
● Stomach problems
● Social withdrawal
● Loss of sex drive
● Using alcohol or drugs to cope
Workplace stress is detrimental to your career and overall quality of life. Here are some tips to slow down and de-stress from your busy life.
Tip 1: Beat workplace stress by reaching out to family, friends, and co-workers
Sometimes the best stress-reducer is to share your stress with someone you trust. The act of speaking up and getting support can be a highly effective way of blowing off steam and regaining your sense of calm. You can turn to your trusted coworkers and lean on your family and friends for support.
Tip 2: Keep yourself healthy with exercise and proper nutrition
When you’re too focused on work, it’s easy to neglect your physical health. But when good health is part of your goals, you should not ignore it. Support your health with good nutrition and exercise, and you would be stronger and more resilient to stress.
Taking care of yourself doesn’t require a total lifestyle change. Even small things can boost your mood, increase your energy, and make you feel like you’re back on track.
Tip 3: Don’t sacrifice sleep
Just because you have a lot of things to do and pending tasks to complete, it does not mean that you have the right not to get a full night’s sleep.
Sacrificing sleep interferes with your daytime productivity, creativity, problem-solving skills, and ability to focus. The better rested you are, the better equipped you will be to handle your job responsibilities and cope with workplace stress.
Tip 4: The key is prioritization
Being able to prioritize your tasks is key tomanaging stress more effectively. Learn how to effectively manage your time, organize your deliverables, and prioritize your tasks.
Try to create a balanced schedule, leave early each morning to avoid being late, plan regular short breaks, establish healthy boundaries and learn not to over-commit yourself.
In terms of handling the tasks assigned to you, learn how to delegate them, break them into smaller tasks, and be willing to compromise.
Tip 5: Break those habits
Many of us make workplace stress worse with negative thoughts and behavior. Turn these self-defeating habits around and you’d be able to work freely and hassle-free. Manage yourself, do not overthink or overanalyze. Try not to control the uncontrollable and assess the situation or the task you are to handle.
When you feel uncertain, helpless, or out of control, your stress levels are the highest. While there is hardly a singular solution to reducing negative stress, research shows that keeping one’s finances in order can help tremendously.
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Vista Residences is the condominium arm of the country’s largest homebuilder, Vista Land & Lifescapes, Inc. that offers ready for occupancy and pre selling condominium projects in Manila and Quezon City, that are strategically located within inner-city areas, in close proximity to premium universities and developed business districts.
For more information on Vista Residences, email [email protected], follow @VistaResidencesOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube, or call the Marketing Office at 0999 886 4262 / 0917 582 5167.
