It happens to everyone at some point in their career. Workplace stress builds up and overcomes you. You don’t know what to do, where to turn. You just know that if you don’t get some help, you feel like you might explode.
While there are a lot of experts who offer suggestions on how you can reduce workplace stress, the best place to start is to understand the root of the problem.
Understanding Workplace Stress
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH) “job stress results when there is a poor match between job demands and the capabilities, resources, or needs of workers.” That seems like a clear and simple explanation. However, in today’s high demand work environment and precarious job market, job stress has become an ever-increasing issue.
There are some interesting workplace stress related figures that have come out since the recession began a couple of years ago. First, according to the American Psychological Association (APA) in their July 2009 article, “The recession is stressing men more than women,”
Harris Interactive conducted a survey and found that out of a group of more than 2,000 working adults, men were more stressed than women in the 35 to 44 and 45 to 54 age groups.
In the September 10, 2010 DailyFinance article, “Workers in the Recession: Stress, Boredom and Too Little Pay,” writer Charles Wallace cites a Robert Half International study which indicated that 37% of the professionals surveyed were “not being fairly compensated for taking on a greater workload during the recession.” To add fuel to the flame, Wallace noted that the experts at CareerBuilder.com said that many employers had no other choice but to pile on the work.
Finally, in a January 26, 2011, New York Times article titled, “Record Level of Stress Found in College Freshmen,” writer Tamar Lewin writes about the decline in the emotional well-being of college students. Perhaps an indication that the term workplace isn’t just about the old nine to five, but rather, it describes any major daily activity.
Fight Back Against Workplace Stress
The important thing is to recognize workplace stress and then to take steps to eliminate or at least diminish stressors. For organizations reducing workplace stress means promoting safe and healthy work conditions such as looking at work schedules, emotional stress, and job redesign.
For workers eliminating job stress means taking control of your environment and saying “no” if necessary, avoiding people who stress you out, organizing and prioritizing and openly talking to those who can help. It also means taking time for you, and finding work-life balance and a supportive network of family and friends. There is another way that employees might want to fight off workplace stress.
According to the Mayo Clinic, laughter is a great form of stress relief. The reason? It enhances your intake of oxygen, it activates then relieves your stress response, and it aids muscle relaxation which soothes tension.
Another great way to relieve stress is through physical activity. Sports such as baseball, tennis, running, racquetball or boxing can increase your endorphins giving you what is frequently known as a “runner’s high.” Physical activity also improves your mood and gives you a sense of optimism.
Or how about this idea to reduce workplace stress? In the April 24, 2011 Los Angeles Times article by Jeannine Stein titled, “Using video to fight workplace stress,” she offers a great option if you need to workout your stress. Do it through video.
“Potentially less risky than bailing from your job by grabbing a beer and sliding down an airplane emergency chute,” according to Stein, websites such as Xtranormal.com, Workrant.com and Jobitorial.com allow anyone to create a video just by typing in dialogue and choosing camera angles. Some of the videos are pretty hysterical. Others are tinged with anger.
However you choose to vent, the whole idea is to allow you to talk about the things you may otherwise hold inside. And your on-air release may reflect the feeling of others who can subsequently get relief by watching. In addition, according to Stein’s article the head of the APA’s Psychologically Healthy Workplace Program says that if the videos are done with the right intention these videos can serve a positive purpose and allow you to let off steam.
Ultimately, whether you go viral with a video and act out your frustrations or work out your stress with the help of family and friends, the purpose is to reduce workplace stress so that it doesn’t lead to other physical and mental health problems.
Sources:
- American Psychological Association. “The recession is stressing men more than women.” Accessed 4/28/11.
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH). Accessed 4/28/11.
- Lewin, Tamar. New York Times. “Record Level of Stress Found in College Freshmen.” January 26, 2011. Accessed 4/28/11.
- MayoClinic.com. Stress Management. Accessed 4/28/11.
- Stein, Jeannine. Los Angeles Times. “Using video to fight workplace stress.” April 24, 2011. Accessed 4/28/11.
- Wallace, Charles. DailyFinance. “Workers in the Recession: Stress, Boredom and Too Little Pay.” September 10, 2010. Accessed 4/28/11.
Deborah S. Hildebrand - Deborah S. Hildebrand is a freelance writer & HR consultant with 20+ years in human resources & a Bachelor's degree in Business.
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