Stress is not solely a byproduct of the workplace, but since so much of our lives revolve around the work we do, work related stress becomes a common problem we all face. Be it working retail, corporate or independently, the little mixers of the personal, work, and life in general can build up to the point where we push ourselves to meet unrealistic expectations and even risk burnout. Stress most often culminates in the work place, building up where we place the most pressure on ourselves: when everything piles up, so does the stress. It is not an irregular occurrence, which is why understanding everything about it is all the more important to personal development.
Stress and its effects on the human body
At its core, stress is the basic fight-or-flight response triggered by our bodies in negative situations. While this biological response is healthy and necessary in short bouts for our survival, a prolonged state of stress throws our body out of balance and further endangers our body and mind. In cases of prolonged high stress levels, chronic stress develops and this has a vast impact on our overall health and wellbeing. Studies have shown how continuous chronic stress can negatively affect memory functions, cognition and learning, as well as weaken the immune system over time, making the early identification of stress most crucial.
Though signs of stress may vary from person to person, prolonged states of anxiety, fatigue, recurrent tension headaches, forgetfulness, and constant worry may very well point out that excess stress is playing a heavy role in your life.
Stress at work
If you’ve ever had a job, you’ve probably been stressed out about work. Meetings, phone calls, unmet deadlines can all pile up and contribute to that rising tension. Work stress is a common occurrence among adults, and while that response can prove to be useful occasionally, jobs that continuously put you in high stress situations can seriously affect your long-term health. Though leaving the workplace might offer itself as a tempting option, not many are in a position to see it through. Therefore, understanding how best to manage stress at work is imperative to your future health.
Dealing with work stress
They say prevention is better than cure, and in some instances, they can be right. With stress, though it is ideal to do one’s best to practice avoiding tension altogether, it’s an impossible place to start. It’s important to take it one step at a time, without adding the extra worry of eliminating your stress to that already anxiety inducing to-do list.
1. Identify what is causing you anxiety.
Is it that incomplete to-do list? A new project that you are uncertain of how to tackle, even though you feel like it’s something you should know how to do? Perhaps personal situations are affecting your performance at work, or you’re worried about worrying about stress at work. Understanding what is causing the anxiety can bring immense relief and, most importantly, will open up possibilities for dealing with the issue. Then, if there is anything one can start doing about it, it becomes easier to plan for it. We are often overwhelmed at the prospect of dealing with so many stresses at once that we can often forget to just take a moment to pause and breathe.
2. You don’t have to deal with this alone
Though there are certainly things we can do as individuals to help reduce the stress we feel from work, it’s not necessary to deal with this alone. Stress might feel like an isolating experience, but it’s far more common than we share. Having a support system to talk to, or even a guided professional can make a huge difference in managing workplace stress. Corporate stress relief programs are great ways of learning how to deal with stress in a healthy manner with the help of others and prevent it from becoming a state of living.
3. Practice mindfulness
So often when we are stressed, we forget to orient ourselves with the present and instead start dwelling on past regrets or future worries. Practicing mindfulness helps move our brain away from these negative habits and helps us pay attention to the present moment with acceptance and interest. Taking a moment to view the present in a clear way frees up the mind and helps us to approach old problems with a fresh outlook- which could be exactly what we need. Mindfulness can be cultivated through formal practice of guided meditation, awareness of breath, or walking meditation, or even informally through our daily activities. Some of the best wellness and spa retreats practice mindfulness, and mindfulness-based therapies have proven to be effective at reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety, which are also common manifestations of stress.
