Workplace Stress – How Do You Define it? What Can You Do About It?
What causes your stress at work? Have you ever taken the time to analyze what throws you off your game? What causes you to feel that physical discomfort that is the stress response?
How do you feel stress?
When you experience stress, you feel the “fight-or-flight” response. This makes your heart rate increase, your breathing to quicken, your blood pressure to rise and your muscles to tighten. This would serve you well if you are in a situation where you must act quickly in an emergency. Some small doses of stress can be a good thing. It helps you accomplish deadline tasks or prevent injury. Your body is not meant to have the constant state of fight-or-flight response. This chronic, long-term stress condition can create a whole host of medical problems.
What one person considers to be stressful, another may think of as an interesting challenge. A lot depends on personality, current health and what is going on in their personal life. Most of us can handle pressure pretty well if we can manage to keep our life somewhat in balance so that we don’t become overwhelmed. When you feel your heart pound and that familiar reaction as the stress washes over you, pay attention. Are you having chronic physical signs of stress such as fatigue, muscular tension, headaches, difficulty sleeping, upset stomach or rashes? Your anxiety level may increase along with discouragement, irritability and a reduced ability to concentrate. If your behavior becomes agressive, shows diminished creativity or initiative and you find your tolerance level for frustration is getting lower, it’s time to get concerned.
So, what causes stress in the workplace?
Here are some of the common problems that employees report:
- Job Insecurity
- Adjusting to new technology
- Changes to duties
- Long Hours
- Organizational changes
- Conflict with co-workers or management
- External triggers such as: the current political climate, financial concerns, health issues, emotional, divorce or other family problems
You can’t control all the situations so how can you help yourself?
- Sometimes just thinking it through and organizing your thoughts will help you feel more in control. Make a list of what would help you reduce your stress levels so you can take action.
- Figure out what is in your control and do it! Eating healthy, exercising, getting enough sleep and meditating will go a long way towards minimizing stress. Think those steps take too much time and will add to your to-do list? Your increased energy and ability to prioritize what is important will surprise you!
- If one of your triggers is job insecurity or adjusting to new technology, think about taking classes that will help you feel more up-to-date in your skills and relevant in the workplace.
- Do not over-schedule yourself in your personal life, everyone needs some free time to decompress and put themselves first.
- It’s okay to say no to social engagements or other requests on your time that you do not want to do.
- For perfectionists: accept that sometimes it is okay to do things “good enough.” Frequently, the stress we feel is pressure we put on ourselves to be perfect and do more than we can possibly accomplish.
- Whenever practical, schedule your work day so that your most difficult tasks are done when you are fresh and energized. Avoid last minute panic by staying organized and prioritizing your work to meet deadlines on time.
Need more help?
If you do everything that is in your control and still feel overly stressed, it may be time to talk over your concerns with your employer or HR Manager. Over time, so much is added to our desks that management is not aware of how much you are juggling. It could be as simple as getting some training, equipment or software. Or there may even be someone else on staff that is ready to learn some new tasks and can take on some of your overflow. Many employers will respond in a positive way to a well-organized plan on how to streamline a system so that the workflow is more efficient.
Partnering with a CRA (Consumer Reporting Agency) with the services you need to fill in your HR gaps can be an economical solution. The right CRA partner can help you recruit, integrate your system, perform background screening, provide education and license verification, drug testing at convenient locations, and support throughout the process. Feel confident that you are bringing the best hire into your company by having done due diligence both legally and ethically for your employees and customers. A professional CRA partner pays for itself by avoiding costly hiring mistakes. For a free consultation or more information, contact Genesis Background Screening Services at 866 944-0041 ext 101. Online, email or visit www.genesisbackgroundscreening.com. You can sign up to be emailed whenever we post a new blog at https://genesisbackgroundscreening.com/subscribe-to-the-blog/
Genesis Background Screening is not a law firm and provides our blogs for informational purposes only. The blog is not a substitute for experienced legal advice. Research any laws or regulations mentioned here, check with your legal counsel if you have questions and to confirm your organization is within the law regarding compliance.
Jacqueline McClure, Genesis Background Screening Services