Coping with workplace stress

by James Muskett

As many of us already know, work can be a place of stress which may make you sick, depressed, irritable or unproductive.

Whatever the cause, work-related stress is a growing concern for organisations and should not be ignored as it ultimately impacts employee productivity and leads to increased absenteeism.

Taking steps to manage stress

While you might feel helpless and stressed at times, there are ways you can empower yourself and change your job situation for the better!

Don’t react

When you are feeling overwhelmed it can be difficult to remain objective.  When even the smallest setbacks make us feel overwhelmed, stop and take a deep breath.  This not only helps calm you down, but prevents you from saying something you might regret.

Try to take a step back before you react, so you can effectively assess and evaluate the situation.

Talk with your team

Don't try to deal with stress all by yourself!  Talking it through with someone you can trust, whether your line manager or a colleague, can help you identify what’s causing the stress and offer improvements to the situation.

Talk to your colleague or manager and get their advice if you are faced with a task that you feel is too challenging or if you are ‘in over your head’.

If you talk, people will help!

Get on the same page with your boss

Stress can occur when there’s a difference between what’s required of us and what we feel we can deliver.  Working with your boss to ensure you are both on the same page may mean re-prioritising, checking timescales or having clear objectives.  You may still feel under pressure, but at least your manager knows you’re focussed.  You may also find that what you thought were some of your most critical tasks can get pushed back down your ‘to-do’ list.

Tip for bosses - when you see an employee not coping well with the general pressure, sit down with them and talk.

Take a problem solving approach

Once you pinpoint your sources of stress, think about what you can do to resolve it/them.  For example, if you’re stressed about a tight deadline, talk to your manager to see which project could be taken off your plate, even just temporarily, so you can focus on the task at hand.  If it’s a conflict with a colleague, think about what you can do to resolve it.

A positive step is to make a list, breaking down the tasks into manageable parts or defining the real cause of the conflict.

Take a problem-solving approach and try to fix what’s within your power. Don’t spend time worrying about what you cannot control, just focus on how you can affect the outcome.

Hang out with positive people

Colleagues who are constantly stressed out and do a lot of complaining can affect the way you feel and behave.  Choosing to be around more positive, helpful people will provide you with better support and even assist you in identifying solutions.

Choose to hang out with people who are supportive, relaxed and just fun to be around.

Encourage humour in your workplace

Humour and laughter can lighten the mood of your workplace and make it truly a fun place to be.  This in turn makes you, your colleagues and even your managers more enthusiastic about their jobs and much more productive.

Humour at work is highly recognised for the benefits it brings to individuals.  Laughter releases endorphins that reduce stress, create a sense of wellbeing and make you feel more alert.

It can also help you think and be more creative.  Just take a moment to remember the time when you were stuck on a problem, then had a good laugh which cleared you of your negative feelings.  It allowed you to look at the situation with a fresh positive outlook.

Happy workers are productive workers.

Take time out and be healthy

Take care of yourself!  Engage in activities that are relaxing to you, such as yoga, walking, running, gardening or anything that you really enjoy.  Of course, physical activities are a boon to your health and can be protective.  Being in good physical strength also makes you somewhat more immune to the effects of stress.

At the same time, make sure you eat healthy foods and drink lots of water.

Take breaks and time to yourself – enjoy a walk at lunchtime, the fresh air will do you good!

And if you are the manager…

Whilst it is important for employees to be aware of workplace stress, it is also essential for employers to be aware of any work overloads or pressure on their teams.

Workplace stress presents a significant health and safety issue and employers need to take steps to ensure that their employees are given the opportunity to improve the situation.

 

For further information, contact Dixon Appointments on 03 9629 9999.

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