Work is full of complications and problems that can pile up, which causes a lot of stress and pressure for employees. Whether you’re low or high on the corporate ladder, stress and burnout are things that can quickly become a reality and can be hard to deal with depending on what methods you have in place to tackle them. Symptoms include irritation, sadness, fatigue, muscle tension and loss (or growth) of appetite. Let’s take a look, then, at some great tips to manage stress specific to the workplace.
Why stress management is important:
When you don’t effectively deal with stress you might be feeling, you are going to be setting yourself up for long term health and happiness problems. What stresses you now to a moderate degree might majorly stress you out in a year, making previously simple jobs almost impossible. It will take a toll on your mental energy, your emotional health, and a lot of other parts of your life including relationships with your coworkers and even loved ones. Stress management is critical to keeping up your quality of life both in and out of the workplace.Tips to try:
Despite what you may be thinking, stress management is possible for you to achieve without making massive changes to your day to day life. In terms of dealing with stress specific to your work place, here are some great ideas to consider and see which ones work best for you.Identify what it is, specifically, that is causing your stress:
Whether you are stressed out by interactions with your boss, the workload that you have, a particular task that you feel is out of your comfort zone, or anything else in your workplace, you need to understand what is making you feel stressed and why. This way you know what tasks to focus on in terms of dealing with the emotions. It also allows you to appropriately communicate your concerns.Find healthy ways to relieve your stress:
There are all sorts of outlets you can use for the stress you are feeling. One of the best things you can do is a workout of some kind. Yoga is a really popular one because it’s low impact as far as exercise goes, but it will allow you to work through and get rid of the tension that you are feeling from the workplace.Set restraints on your availability for work:
It’s understandable to want to always be available in case work needs you, but for the sake of your long term mental health, you need to learn when it’s time to shut down. In this sense, literally. Turn off your work phone and keep yourself from answering your work emails after a certain time of day or night. Carve out time for your personal life so that your work life doesn’t consume every other element of what you do.Make time for fun:
When you are stressed, having “you” time is incredibly important in order to recharge properly. Some examples of things to do would be to watch your favorite movie or read your favorite book, eat a special treat, etc. Pick fun things that will help you feel relief from the tension that has been building inside of you over the day or the week. You can change it up each time or keep it the same depending on what you prefer. It’s all about you!Try talking to someone about it:
Whether it’s a co-worker, a trusted friend or even a supervisor, share your stresses with someone who can offer you comfort, understanding, or companionship through this stress. When you involve another person, sometimes they find solutions to things you wouldn’t be able to find yourself. A co-worker is the ideal person because they are going through much of the same problems as you, and they can empathize with what you’re dealing with. As we get more and more connected with our jobs through cell phones and long hours, the stress will rise until we feel consumed by it all. Do what you can to make sure you stay on top of it by using these tips to help you roll the tension away and stay in control of your life and your mental health. Seeking professional help from a counselor can be important if you find that your stress becomes out of control and you don’t know what to do. Sometimes work environments are not healthy and there may not be a great option to talk with your boss, open up to a co-worker, or address being overworked. In these cases, talking with an objective person can really help you manage stress and make the important decisions regarding your work and how to balance it with your life goals.Pivotal Counseling Center has therapists who can help you work through stress and anxiety, including workplace stress. We have locations in Woodstock, Illinois, and Lake in the Hills, Illinois. If you are in need of someone to help, please consider giving us a call at (815) 345-3400.
