On average, how much stress have you experienced while at work?
Between pressing schedules, bad bosses, incompetent coworkers, and clashing personalities in a workplace, sometimes it seems a wonder that any work gets done at all! Stress management is key!
Workplace stress is a serious danger to our society, much more than many realize. It has been known to cripple businesses, lead to employees' nervous breakdowns, and even cause people to take their lives. At the very least, it certainly grates at the quality of life experienced by many individuals in our workforce today.
Unfortunately, situations in the workplace that invite stress are not only common but generally crucial to the company at large. From work meetings to regime changes and tight deadlines, stress can thrive in a heavy working environment, making it feel like an unending trap for some. If this is your experience, take heart! There are ways for you to handle and remedy this stress, even in the midst of all the existing chaos of your work.
Handling Workplace Stress
One thing to keep in mind when talking about stress at work is that you can prevent this stress without having to change anything about your work environment. A lot of your workplace stressors can be minimized by adjusting your perspective and actions regarding the situations at hand. The following are a few examples of ways you could handle workplace stress:
Take your breaks intentionally: When you get scheduled breaks at your work, consider spending your time off of your phone, taking a walk outside, or practicing some deep breathing away from your workspace.
Avoid drama with coworkers and bosses: Perhaps the most upsetting part of being in the workforce is that, at some point or another, you’ll likely come into contact with a few really frustrating people. However, it is very important for your own stress levels that you do your best to keep peace with them and avoid unnecessary drama. This does not mean that you should people-please, let them push you around, or treat you unfairly. It means that you can choose to mentally separate yourself from them and behave in a respectful manner which minimizes friction, remove yourself from their presence as soon as practically possible, and trying to look at things from other perspectives to better understand how to best approach working with them.
Leave work at work: When you get home and kick off your shoes, you may be tempted to stew in the cluster of infuriating happenings that made your day miserable. However, this allows your workplace stress to come into your home, robbing you of even more of your precious time. Try sorting your work-related stressors into a work “box” in your mind, only re-opening that box when you return to the job. Compartmentalizing your work can help you to prevent the spread of unnecessary stress.
Share the load: However, the previous point does not mean you can’t vent your feelings and stresses to the right person (or people). A family member, significant other, or close friend may be happy to lend their ears to your words, helping you to carry the mental burden.
Seeking Professional Help
Sometimes, workplace stressors get to a point where they may be deemed unsafe—your mental health is being drained by an unfair system, rude co-workers, or degrading bosses, or you’ve been the victim of workplace harassment, discrimination, injury, or assault. To deal with these dangerous workplace stressors, pursuing legal action if the situation calls for it, going to trusted friends or family members when you need advice, or seeking out a therapist can all be healthy ways of dealing with the problems that arise when workplace stressors become something worse. Stress relief is important, and coping with anxiety, fear, and stress is important to not let your nervousness and tension take over in the workplace.
If you are suffering from the effects of an unhealthy workplace, such as stress, depression, and anxiety, Omaha Trauma Therapy is here to help! CBT, DBT, EMDR and Brainspotting therapy techniques are our specialty. We want to provide you with a holistic approach to overcoming your workplace trauma. Contact us.