How Stressful Is Your Job?
A moderate level of stress is necessary for survival. Living and working under excess stress, however, will probably have a negative effect on how you do your job. Stress is a major cause of employee absence from the workplace. If you dread going to work each day, mistrust your supervisors, or constantly fear losing your job, then stress is definitely affecting your job performance.
Headaches, depression, and a variety of illnesses are often related to excess stress. When stress becomes serious enough, it becomes distress, and that can lead to serious health and personal problems.
Take the Stress Out of Your Job
Everybody wants to have a job they like. Look for ways to make your job enjoyable, or at least more tolerable.
- Talk with your supervisors. Calmly and rationally share your concerns with them. Ask them if they can help you make changes in your routine that will reduce stress and, as a result, improve your production.
- Identify the stressors you experience on the job, then look for positive ways to make changes. For example, reducing noise, coming in earlier or working later to avoid heavy traffic, setting clear priorities in the work you do, or taking a brisk walk during your lunch break might help reduce the stress you feel.
- Many businesses now have activity and exercise facilities. If these facilities are available to you, take advantage of the opportunity to work out at work! You will benefit from increased fitness, increased energy, and decreased stress. Get all the help and support you can from your workplace.
- If nothing seems to reduce the job stress you feel, it may be time to look for a new job. In looking for a new place of employment, make sure you don't end up in the same kind of stressful situation you just left.
- If your health is suffering from ongoing stress, see your doctor. There are medications that can help you manage stress and give you time to develop new stress management approaches.
- Counseling helps many people understand how their stress develops, what stress does to them, and how to effectively deal with stress.
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