It's Time to Tackle Stress at Work

MAKE-IT-SAFE MONDAY

Stress is a widely accepted aspect of the workplace; you often have countless things to get done and countless deadlines to meet. You have coworkers, clients, and bosses who are all depending on you to get everything done. Some workplace stress is normal and unavoidable; however, excessive stress can interfere with your physical and emotional health and often times you have little or no control over your workplace responsibilities. Luckily, this doesn’t mean you have no control over managing your stress level.

It is often difficult to recognize the warning signs of excess stress vs. the signs of normal stress. Some of the signs and symptoms you should look out for are: 

• Feeling anxious, irritable, or depressed
• Problems sleeping and/or fatigue
• Trouble concentrating and/or getting headaches more than usual
• A loss of interest in work or other daily activities

Often times these symptoms are caused by the fear of being laid off, excessive overtime, rising expectations, or excessive pressure to work at a high level at every moment. Most of us will face one or more of these issues at some point throughout our career and it’s important to know what we can do to best handle the stress that comes with these issues. 

A few steps you can take to reduce stress levels are, but not limited to: 

• Exercise Daily. Regular exercise is a powerful stress reliever; it’s an effective way to lift your mood, increase your energy, and relax both your mind and your body. 
• Eat Healthy.  Eating healthy balanced meals throughout stressful days can help your body maintain a healthy blood sugar level and increase energy. 
• Get Enough Sleep. This can be tricky due to the fact that excessive stress often leads to problems sleeping. However, a lack of sleep can often cause even more stress. Research ways to keep a consistent sleep schedule and aim for 8 hours of sleep per night. 
• Stay Organized. Staying organized can help you properly prioritize projects, and balance out your schedule. Make sure to make ‘to-do’ lists, break projects up into smaller steps, and delegate responsibility if possible. Plan time throughout your day to take short breaks to relax and recharge. 
• Realize When You’re Getting Stressed. Being able to recognize your stress level rising is a very valuable tool. Attempt to be more aware of your emotions and their impact on your mood. If you feel like you’re starting to get overly stressed out, take a short break and do something to sooth your emotions. 

There are many more methods to reducing stress; however, we’re all unique individuals. It’s important to figure out what methods work best for reducing the stress in your life. 

Thank you for your time and attention.  Let’s make it safe this Monday.

Christopher Feigal
Demand Generation Specialist, Lift’n Buddy, a Southworth Company