Workplace Stress Workplace stress is a major problem for many organizations because many employees are in this situation and still cannot find ways to treat or cope with the stress caused by work.
Stress has become a part of our daily lives, whether it is at home, on the road, in the supermarket, or especially at work. When it comes to work, it is inevitable that we will be carrying stress with us throughout our journey. In terms of time, work takes up more than half of our lives. Are we going to let stress from work consume our lives like this?
“44% of all employees say they are stressed at work.”
Stress is a part of your daily life. Surprisingly, sometimes we don’t have a clear answer as to where that stress comes from or what causes it. According to a study by Gallup, 44% of employees say they experience stress at work. And this is the most common type of stress we experience. Even if work isn’t your biggest stressor, it could be a contributing factor to your biggest stressors.
“What is workplace stress?”
Work stress occurs when your mind and body respond to high work demands that you can’t handle. You reach a point where you have a to-do list that you can’t finish or can’t do. It may be because the number of tasks is too much or the type of work is beyond your capabilities. Approaching deadlines squeeze you so hard that you can’t breathe, adding to the pressure and making your stress flare up. That’s when you find yourself experiencing serious work stress.
“The pandemic is not just about illnesses like COVID, but also about stress.”
The COVID-19 crisis has been a disaster that has worsened employees’ mental health. Research has found that the pandemic has exacerbated issues such as financial loss, job insecurity, and fear of illness that could lead to missed work or long-term disability that have long-term consequences. Work stress has become something that no one can resist, from health professionals and counselors to teachers and administrators.
“Increased stress also means increased workplace burnout.”
Studies have shown that industries with high levels of work stress can lead to employee burnout. This is the breaking point of your work life. Although you may not be able to pinpoint exactly what is causing your stress, if you look at yourself on a daily basis, you will find that there are many types of stress that affect you on a daily basis. Stress causes about a million employees to miss work each day. It doesn’t just hurt you, it hurts your coworkers as well. Therefore, knowing where your stress is coming from is the key to managing stress.
Here are 7 factors that cause work stress:
- Types of Work : You may not have control over the work you do. Work that is time-consuming, frustrating, and confusing can contribute to stress. It can make you feel like you are not accomplishing anything or that the quality of your work is unacceptable.
- Management Style : You feel unsupported by your manager. When leaders at your workplace are not supportive or considerate of your well-being, it can lead to stress. Perhaps your manager is working too hard for you, and you feel like you can’t relax, which can lead to stress.
- Work Relationships : Not everyone in the workplace can be a good friend. When team members or managers don’t get along, it becomes a tense situation. It leads to more tension and poor decision-making. If your team members make you feel unsafe or uncomfortable at work, the stress can increase even more.
- Roles and Responsibilities : Taking on too many responsibilities can limit you and bring you closer to burnout. It makes you too busy and you start spending long hours working instead of taking time off. But being aware of your roles and the extent of your responsibilities can help you set professional boundaries.
- Future Career Concerns : All the uncertainty around the economy, from industry growth to job security and career advancement, can easily cause stress. Your future is important to you, but so are your mental and physical health. You can’t control your future, so make it a point to take care of yourself now.
- Working conditions : Your working conditions are a key factor in how productive you are, how focused you are, and how engaged you want to be. When working from home, you may encounter distractions around your home that can be very stressful, or a noisy workplace that can create anxiety about how much you can concentrate on your work.
- Commuting to work : Sources of stress don’t have to be at work. Shift work can lead to driving home feeling stressed or anxious about a potential car accident. Battling through heavy, non-moving traffic on the way to work can raise your blood pressure. This is a bad sign if commuting to work adds to your workplace stress.
“What are the physical effects of stress in the workplace?”
When your brain perceives a threat, it sends a signal to your hypothalamus, and then stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline start coursing through your body. These hormones travel to every inch of your body. If your stress levels drop, so do the threatening hormones. But if your stress becomes chronic, those hormones will continue to plague you, even after your stressful feelings have passed.
“Stress will hinder your ability to develop your skills and future plans.”
Studies have shown that employees experience lower levels of quality and productivity when they are stressed out. Their focus on the job is reduced, and stress is reason enough for someone to quit a job, even if it used to be fun and fulfilling. Of course, it can be even more daunting when you realize that it can interfere with your desire to develop your potential and disrupt your plans to achieve your future life goals.
“It’s a work-life balance disaster.”
Workplace stress can also seep into your personal life. It can start to become a disaster when you take work stress home with you. You may withdraw from social life, become irritable, give up on your hobbies, and obviously your work performance and quality of life suffer.
“What can stress do to you?”
Work-related stress can take a toll on your mental health, while others take a toll on your physical health. While some symptoms go away after a stressful day is over, others can persist. And chronic stress can be detrimental to your mental health, your cardiovascular system, leading to high blood pressure, heart disease, and more. Here are some symptoms of stress to look out for.
- Unable to focus on the task at hand
- Physical and mental fatigue
- Headache and migraine
- High blood pressure and heart rate
- Changes in sleep patterns and social activity
- Low morale and negative attitude
- Lack of self-confidence and decision-making ability
- Increased job anxiety and depression
Conclusion
If you want to understand stress, looking for ways to relieve it at work is a good place to start. Your health will benefit from learning how to manage it. And if you can identify the causes of the workplace stress you are experiencing, it will help you gain a deeper understanding of yourself. You will be able to prioritize your health and well-being over work, even if it is your dream job.
Companies are becoming more aware of the increasing stress levels among employees. Leaders and managers are seeking training to find solutions because everyone knows how much stress from employees is affecting the company. They are trying to address the situation and help employees from their own roles. But at the same time, every employee must cooperate and help themselves. Try to observe the things that cause stress, such as working conditions, responsibilities or company culture. When you find the cause, you will find ways to manage that stress.
Reference:
What is workplace stress, and how what are its effects?
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