Workplace stress is sometimes unavoidable, and a person may view a
certain level of stress as normal or even good as it will motivate to do the
work more easily and quickly. But, when the pressure is too much then
it becomes a problem and can harm both the employee’s health and
their performance at work. Both the individual and the organization must
take action in the prevention and treatment of work-related stress, and addressing the causes and recognizing the
symptoms of poor mental health are essential steps in this process.
There could be a point when
your job might ask you to deliver more work and that creates pressure on the
employee. Yes, it is true that at some point in their lives, employees have
faced some sort of pressure at their workplace.
Workplace stress
People experience stress at work as a response to demands and pressures that
are either outside the realm of their knowledge and abilities or beyond their
capacity to handle. Workplace stress is frequently unavoidable, and a person may
view a certain level of stress as normal or even healthy.
Stress at work rises as a
result of short deadlines and heavier workloads. No one is resistant to job
stress; some work conditions are more stressful than others if they demand
faster changeovers or work in high-pressure industries. Workplace stress
affects everyone, from consultants and teachers to CEOs and healthcare workers.
When this pressure increases to a high extent, it might result in burnout which
can ultimately damage the employee’s health and performance at work.
Signs and symptoms of workplace stress
- Headaches
- Elevated blood pressure
- Digestive problems
- Sleeping problems
- Mood swings and irritability
- Depression
- Reduced ability to focus
- Reduced appetite
- Procrastination
- Increased use of drugs and
alcohol - Poor performance at work
Long term effects of stress
are:
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Musculoskeletal disorders
- Psychological disorders and
even burnout - Injury at workplace
- Other health problems like
ulcers, cancer, and low immune function - Attempts at suicide or risk
of suicide
Causes of workplace stress
1. High workload: Workload is the most common reason for stress among employees. More work
and unreasonable deadlines make people work under pressure and hence stress.
They also have a feeling of being overwhelmed.
2. Kinds of work: When it comes to the things you complete, you can lack control. Stress is increased by time-consuming, irritating, and
unclear tasks. It gives you the impression that your work is of low quality or
that you aren’t making any significant progress at work which is quite
distressing for the employee.
3. Approach for management: Do you feel that there is a lack of support from your
managers? Stress is increased in the job when the leaders don’t support you or
care about your well-being. Perhaps your manager gives you a lot of work and
makes you feel like you can’t have any time off, which makes you stressed out.
4. Relationships at the workplace: Your coworkers are not all
your friends. Situations get difficult when team members or management have
disagreements. It results in poor judgment and increased tension and stress. If
team members make you feel unsafe or unpleasant while working, stress levels
rise.
5. Low morale: People frequently feel helpless when morale is low. They thus get lazy
as a result, which lowers production. The jobs of secretary, waiter, middle
manager, police officer, and editor are among the most demanding and stressful
jobs. The service-related nature of duties is the main characteristic
that all of these professions demand. These experts have limited
control over the course of events and must answer the requests and deadlines
of others.
6. Traumatic incidents: It’s true that some jobs are riskier than others, though this isn’t
desirable. Every day, a lot of people who work in the criminal justice field,
first responders, firefighters, and the military face risky situations. On
occasion, this makes performing routine tasks challenging. Positions like those
mentioned above are extremely difficult because of this.
7. Future professional worries: Stress can be readily caused by a variety of factors,
including the economy, the rate of business growth, job security, and
promotions for professional advancement. You care about your future, but you
also care about your present and future health. Focus on looking after yourself
in the here and now because you have no control over the future.
Leadership strategies that can prevent job stress
- Verifying that workload is appropriate with staff skills and abilities.
- Creating jobs that it provides workers purpose and opportunities to succeed
- Defining the roles
and responsibilities clearly. - Enhancing
communication so that the company can progress - Creating work-life
balance - Providing
opportunities so that the professional development of the employees and their
decision-making power is enhanced. - Engage TalktoAngel, India’s Best EAP Service Provider for enhancing well-being and
productivity.
How to overcome workplace stress at the workplace?
It’s
not always possible to prevent conflicts at the workplace and manage stress. However,
you can take action to reduce your stress at work. Here are some techniques you
can use to control your anxiety and stress:
- Meditation
and mindfulness exercises - Self-care
practices for healthy habits - Learning
effective time management - When
you feel overburdened, make an effort to simplify your life by going on a
retreat. - Learn ways to improve your lifestyle.
- Learn
to say “NO” and try to create healthy limits. - Identify
your stressors and make an effort to manage them appropriately. - Consult online with the best psychologist near me, and take
therapies regularly.
If you would like to learn more about your challenges in managing workplace stress and
it is impacting your life seeking online consultation with the Best
Clinical Psychologists or Best
Psychiatrists will help you to
understand your emotions, thoughts, and behavior and enable you to better
understand your reasons of workplace stress and health skills. You can also meet
in the clinic with the best
clinical psychologists & life coaches at Psychowellness
Center, a multi-location clinic at Janakpuri, Dwarka, VasantVihar, Gurgaon,
NOIDA, Faridabad, and Delhi NCR.
#psychologistdwarka, #lifecoach, #psychologistdelhi #psychlogistjanakpuri
#psychologistsouthdelhi #phobiatreatment, #counsellingpsychologist #lifestyle #workplacestress
Contributed by: – Dr (Prof) R K Suri, Best Clinical Psychologist in
Delhi, NCR & Dr. Sakshi Kochhar