Stress at work is a growing concern and can take a toll on your productivity and health. The Attitudes in the American Workplace VII* report shows that 80% of workers feel stress on the job, and nearly half say they need help to learn how to manage stress!
Types of Stress at Work 💥💼
Stress is a state of emotional, physical, or mental tension caused by a difficult situation. When you are under stress, your body will release various hormones to help prepare your body for a flight-freeze or-fight response. That said, under normal circumstances, our mental, emotional, and physical state should return to normal once a traumatic event has passed. But stress can be a problem if it lasts long or impacts our well-being or daily life.
The most common type of stress at work is acute stress. It results from your body reacting to a new or challenging situation. These immediate perceived threats can be stressors like an approaching deadline or a new assignment at work. Some may experience this acute stress frequently. It is known as episodic acute stress and is often seen in people who take on too much responsibility, are in unusually demanding jobs, and have interpersonal difficulties. Stress can be all-consuming when the body experiences higher frequency or intensity. It may result in a long-term, often overwhelming feeling known as chronic stress. Over time, chronic work stress can lead to a psychological syndrome known as burnout, a form of exhaustion that can wreak havoc on you if it goes untreated.
Your job is a likely source of stress because of a heavy workload or too little independence, inadequate pay, poor relationship at work, workplace discrimination, and a mismatch between workplace and personal values.
But now more than ever, you are not powerless against the effects of stress at work. Learning to cope with stress is important for protecting your mental and physical health. Moreover, it ensures you can work to the best of your ability without burning out.
To start coping with stress at work, identify your stress triggers. Note each situation, event, and people who cause you to have a negative physical, mental, or emotional response. Once you have identified your stress triggers, look for ways to resolve those specific stressors.
Work on Your Time Management Skills 🕒⚡
Create schedules for yourself, dividing large tasks into smaller ones with realistic expectations and deadlines. Secondly, make a priority list and set regular progress reviews per the developed action plan. Being in stay organized, you will feel in control and keep stress at bay. Important! Say no if you don't have time to do a task and extra goals.
Practice Relaxation Strategies 🧘🏼♀️
Relaxation helps reduce the physiological effects of the fight-or-flight response. Regularly practicing meditation, mindfulness, progressive muscle relaxation, and deep breathing exercises can calm the mind and body.
Take Care of Yourself 💆🏻♀️
Eat regularly. Include plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and water in your daily meals. Plus, add physical activity to your daily routine, and get plenty of uninterrupted sleep.
Make Some "Me-Time" 🧖🏻♀️
To prevent burnout, do things you enjoy, such as spending quality time with friends and family and exploring new or existing hobbies. Experts also discourage fighting stress with fast food, smoking, alcohol, or other unhealthy alternatives.
Take Aromatherapy Showers! 🌸💫💕🚿
Research reveals that hot steam showers reduce anxiety because heat prompts our brains to release oxytocin — a "happy hormone" — which, in turn, reduces stress. Consider adding our aromatherapy shower steamers to your daily self-care routine. Formulated with unique therapeutic scents of pure essential oils like Lavender, Peppermint, and Sweet Orange, our Shower Steamers help deliver relief from stress, anxiety, or depression, promoting relaxation or restful sleep.
Seek Professional Help 👩🏻⚕️
Talking with a counselor about your work situation if you feel your stress levels are out of control. Mental health providers can help address the impact of work stress, offer an outlet for your frustrations, and give practical and healthy coping mechanisms.
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