October 27, 2021
By: Micah Gae Salian
Working in your dream job is the best feeling globally, especially if it is your passion. Our work environment can influence our cheerful attitude, and we can find a sense of belonging there, in the sense of seeking camaraderie with coworkers. We feel so excited, energetic, and dedicated to doing the tasks because we are motivated.
It can be exhausting at times, but we do our best to complete all of our duties. However, too much stress and pressure could be a big problem for our health. When we are under a lot of stress and pressure, it can lead to physical, psychological, and behavioral issues. When we experience these things, it'll indeed affect our performance and productivity.
Have you ever been unmotivated to do the tasks or come to work, losing interest in the job you were once passionate about, and being impatient and irritable? These are some of the behavioral symptoms of work-related stress. Work-related stress may affect everyone, and it develops when a person is unable to cope with the pressures placed on them.
Stress is different from pressure. According to HSENI, pressure is a challenge. It can be a beneficial and motivating influence in the workplace, and it has the potential to assist us in achieving our objectives and improving our performance. However, when the pressure becomes excessive, stress occurs.
When you are dealing with stress, you may experience some negative emotions. Feelings of being overwhelmed and unable to cope, inability to focus, difficulty making decisions, pessimism, discouragement, anxiety, and depression are all possible psychological symptoms of work-related stress. Aside from the psychological symptoms, we must consider the physical symptoms when we deal with work-related stress. Anxiety's physical symptoms include heart palpitations, headaches, insomnia, fatigue, muscular tension, gastrointestinal problems, and dermatological issues (Better Health Channel, 2012).
On the other hand, stress can also occur when people grow bored, undervalued, and unappreciated if too few demands are placed. They may become stressed with the belief that they have little or no control over their work or how they accomplish it. Knowing our limits and capacities is essential so that we can balance work expectations and pressures. When a person experiences that the demands of their job are higher than their ability to manage, they experience stress (HSENI, 2020). Stressful symptoms are just one of the factors that cause anxiety. According to American Psychological Association (2018), Low incomes, heavy workloads, a lack of social support, work that isn't fascinating or challenging, and other issues contribute to work-related stress.
Maybe you're in that circumstance and wondering, "How can I get back on track?". Start with taking some steps to deal with work-related stress:
1. Keep track of your stressors. You can keep or start a diary in which you document your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in the circumstance that is causing you the greatest stress.
2. Generate healthy responses like exercise, yoga, walking, jogging, cycling, sports, and other forms of physical activity. You can also include doing your hobbies and other favorite activities.
3. Define your limits. Make a guideline for yourself to clear your workloads, which implies you will set aside time to relax. Work and personal time should not be mixed.
4. Take some time to re-energize.
Vacation plan, go on a trip and unwind yourself. Lastly, seek assistance. It is more effective when you accept help from your trusted family members and friends to help you manage stress. If work stress continues to overwhelm you, you can see a psychologist who can help you better.
Consider the changes you'll need to make at work to minimize your stress levels, and then get started. Some modifications are manageable on your own, while others will necessitate the assistance of others.
Glen Halterman said, "Take a short break and focus your attention away from whatever is causing you stress."
References:
Work-related stress. (2012, January 6). Better Health Channel. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/work-related-stress
Occupational health: Stress at the workplace. (2020, October 19). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/ccupational-health-stress-at-the-workplace
What is work-related stress?. (2020, April 9). HSENI Controlling Risk Together. https://www.hseni.gov.uk/articles/what-work-related-stress
Coping with stress at work. (2014, July 1). American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/topics/healthy-workplaces/work-stress