Workplace stress affects many employees, negatively impacting their mental and physical health. According to Gallup’s Global 2022 Workplace Report, “44% of people surveyed across the world experience significant workplace stress on a daily basis.” Contributing factors include, but are not limited to:
- Increased workloads
- Tight deadlines
- Lack of support
- Other poor working conditions
Over time work stress often leads to burnout. This is a psychological syndrome characterized by, “emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and a decrease in self-fulfillment.” It is the “result of chronic exposure to emotionally draining environments.” (Rionda, I. S., et al., International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Vol. 18, No. 9, 2021). Stress can become overwhelming and debilitating, which is why we wanted to share some ideas to help you manage stress in a healthy way.
Here are 5 ways to Manage Work Stress (and avoid burnout):
- Organize your work: Prioritize your tasks and set realistic goals. Break larger projects into smaller, manageable chunks. Use calendars, to-do lists, and reminders to keep track of your tasks and deadlines.
- Communicate effectively: Say no when you need to, in terms of taking on more work than is manageable or any other requests that increase your stress. Also, communicate openly and honestly with your supervisor, coworkers, and family about your stressors and how they are impacting you. It can be useful to seek their support and input.
- Practice stress-reducing techniques: Such as deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, or yoga.
- Take regular breaks: Taking short breaks throughout the day can help to reduce stress and improve productivity. Your break could include taking a walk, stretching, doing a brief meditation or anything else that is enjoyable for you.
- Prioritize self-care: Make sure to get enough sleep, eat well, and exercise regularly. Engage in any activities that make you feel good.
While stress is a typical part of daily life, when it is unrelenting, it is necessary to take action to reduce the toll that it takes on your mental and physical well being. For focused help on combating work stress, reach out to us. Our therapists are highly skilled and can support you in making the needed changes to reduce your stress and improve your workdays. Message us today and set up a time to talk!