Reducing Stress at Work

Stress has physical and emotional effects on us and can create positive or negative results. As a benefit, stress can help urge us into action; it can result in a new awareness and exciting new perspectives. Too much stress however can be negative and can result in feelings of anger, mistrust, frustration, and depression.

The negatives effects of stress can eventually lead to health problems such as headaches, gastric disorders, skin irritation, poor sleep patterns, and blocked arteries. Various shifting life situations can be the cause of stress; death of a loved one, moving house, a change in career or financial insecurity. Studies have shown that many illnesses are related to unrelieved stress.

Stress in the Workplace

For most people, work is a very important part of life. It certainly takes up a lot of time; most adults spent at least 25 percent of their lives at work. In the UK it is estimated that work-related stress is responsible for six million days of sick leave a year, with stress being linked to many minor and major illnesses. There is no one particular cause of work-related stress. It can be triggered by sudden, unexpected events, though more often it is produced by a number of factors which may mount up over a period of time. Everyone experiences stress differently. What may be stressful for you, may not affect someone else, and vice versa. The important thing is to recognize what is stressful for you personally and to learn how to diffuse that stress.

Signs of Stress

• Feeling depressed
• Constantly feeling tired
• Tension headaches
• Insomnia
• Sudden outbursts of emotion
• Irritability
• Feelings of resentment

Don't try to completely eliminate stress totally from your life, but try to learn to manage it successfully. This means, keeping a balance of positive energy, and not allow stress to overwhelm us. There is no single optimal level of stress. All of us have our own individual stress limit. Some of us thrive in a face paced job with rigid deadlines, other people might find it makes them unable to think straight, or develop a serious illness.

The first stage to successful stress management is to recognize your stress symptoms and examine how they effect on your life. There are as many ways to cope with pressures as there are sources of stress. The important thing is to find the one that's right for you.

What to do;

• Keep an eye on your stress levels. Don't ignore them. If necessary keep a daily journal so you can monitor your symptoms. Notice which areas of your life trigger your symptoms.
• Practice relaxation techniques such as meditation.
• Maintain a healthy diet.
• Get plenty of sleep.
• Get regular exercise.
• Avoid too much alcohol and caffeine.