Everyone who has ever worked has felt the strain of work-related stress at some point. Even if you enjoy your career, it can be difficult at times. In the short term, you may be under pressure to achieve a deadline or complete a difficult task. Workplace stress can become overpowering and damaging to both physical and emotional health. Unfortunately, long-term stress is all too frequent. And that is when Aventis Wellness’ Employee Assistance Program can come into play. 

There are numerous sources of stress at the workplace: 

  1. Low pay
  2. Large workload
  3. Little prospects for promotion or growth.
  4. Work that is not interesting or challenging 
  5. Insufficient social support
  6. Lacking sufficient control over job-related decisions
  7. Clashing demands or vague performance expectations

Stress can negatively impact one significantly. Stress can have a negative impact on your health and well-being if it persists. Headaches, stomach-aches, sleep disorders, irritability, and difficulty concentrating are all symptoms of a stressful work environment. Anxiety, sleeplessness, elevated blood pressure, and a compromised immune system are all symptoms of chronic stress. It may also play a role in health problems like depression, obesity, and heart disease. Excessive stress is often not well-handled by people. These people who feel it, typically respond in harmful ways, such as overeating, eating unhealthy foods, smoking cigarettes, or abusing drugs and alcohol.

So how do you know if you are experiencing high levels of stress in your workplace? According to a blog from Fingerprint for Success, such symptoms are:

  • Fatigue
  • Short-temper or irritability
  • Upset stomach
  • Dry mouth
  • Clenched teeth or jaw
  • Trouble concentrating
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Rapid heart rate
  • Migraines
  • Loss of interest in work
  • Pessimistic thoughts

So what steps can you take to alleviate the stress faced at the workplace?

Firstly, you can monitor your stressors. For a week or two, keep a journal to track which situations cause you the greatest stress and how you react to them. Keep track of your thoughts, feelings, and information about the situation, including the persons and events involved, the physical setting, and how you behaved. Did you yell something? Did you get a vending machine snack? Take a stroll? Taking notes might assist you in identifying patterns in your stressors and responses to them. This can all be done with Aventis Wellness’ ALDO application which has the function for you to start your journal, download it now! 

Secondly, form healthy reactions. Instead of turning to fast food or booze to relieve stress, try to make healthy choices when you’re feeling stressed. Exercise is an excellent stress reliever. Yoga is a good option, but any type of physical activity is useful. Make time for your hobbies and favourite pastimes as well. Make time for the things that make you happy, whether it’s reading a book, attending concerts, or playing games with your family. For successful stress management, getting adequate good-quality sleep is also critical. Restrict your caffeine intake late in the day and limit stimulating activities like computer and television use at night to develop healthy sleep habits.

Thirdly, set some boundaries. It is easy to feel pressured to be available 24 hours a day in today’s digital age. Make some work-life distinctions for yourself. Making a rule not to check emails from home in the evening or not answering the phone during dinner could help with this. People have varied preferences when it comes to how much work and home life are blended, but drawing clear lines between these worlds can help to lessen the risk of work-life conflict and the stress that comes with it.

Fourth, allow yourself to rest. We all need time to refuel and return to our pre-stress level of functioning to prevent the detrimental impacts of chronic stress and burnout. This healing process necessitates “switching off” from work for periods of time for which you are not engaged in job-related activities nor thinking about work. That is why it is vital that you disconnect from time to time in a way that is appropriate for your requirements and preferences. Don’t waste your vacation days. Take time off when you can to relax and unwind so you can return to work feeling refreshed and ready to perform at your best. When you can’t get away entirely from work, give yourself a break by turning off your phone and focusing your attention on leisure activities for a short period of time.

Fifth, learn how to unwind. Meditation, deep breathing exercises, and mindfulness (a point in which you actively examine present feelings and ideas without judging them) are all techniques that might help you relax. Begin by focusing on a simple activity such as breathing or walking for a few minutes each day. With practice, the ability to focus solely on a single activity without being distracted will improve, and you’ll find that you can apply it to a variety of situations. 

Lastly, reach out to the people around you or any professionals in the mental health sector. Accepting help from trusted friends and family members can help you manage stress more effectively. Your company may also engage Aventis Wellness to conduct their exclusive Employee Assistance Program which consists workshops, counselling and lunch talks. Do not feel shy to approach the counsellors of Aventis Wellness. If work stress continues to overwhelm you, it is crucial to seek help before unhealthy behaviours form. 

 

Be Proactive At Work

Sometimes job stress is inevitable as long as deadlines, office politics and industry changes exist and continue. But this can be dealt with as long as you are able to deal with such feelings or avoid triggering critical situations to prevent stress and anxiety from building and negatively impacting your mental health.

Proactive communication with your team, along with setting and sticking with boundaries, can help you become less stressed at work. Let your team or manager know if you’re feeling overwhelmed in your job and keep everybody in the loop about upcoming projects so no one feels caught off guard.

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