Fortunately, there are ways to manage stress in the workplace. This article will share some of them.
What is work stress?
According to the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, “work stress” is defined as an imbalance between a person’s perception of the constraints imposed by their environment and their perception of their resources to cope with them.
In other words, it is a type of stress that results from a conflict between the employee’s work demands and the level of control they exert over themselves to meet those demands. This usually results in a range of physical and emotional reactions.
More simply, work stress refers to employees’ lack of resources to meet the demands placed on them.
How does stress manifest itself at work?
First of all, it’s important to note that there are two types of stress: chronic stress and acute stress. Symptoms that indicate stress also come in many forms.
Sleep disorders
All the thoughts or dreams of a person stressed by their professional environment are generally focused on their work. The repetition of dreams is a manifestation of the subconscious trying to sound the alarm about a given level of stress.
This situation causes her to have difficulty falling asleep or to wake up at night and immediately think about work, without being able to get back to sleep.
Automatically work-oriented thinking upon waking up in the morning
A stressed person immediately thinks about their work as soon as they wake up in the morning. This automatically triggers a series of thoughts about the many tasks and organizational methods to complete them.
Of course, this may stem from a love for the job, but the fact remains that this situation can be a source of stress.
Symptoms such as a lump in the stomach, a tight throat, and a lack of motivation to go to work when you think about the mountain of things to do are all signs that warn of work-related stress.
Mental exhaustion
Mental exhaustion immediately after leaving the company is also a warning sign. It’s normal to feel tired after a productive day at work.
On the other hand, a problem with concentration, a mind invaded by tasks, and a desire to sleep at the office are effects of stress at work.
Nerves on edge and emotions running high
Mood swings, no matter how intense, are a sign of workplace stress. They result from the pressures of professional life and accumulated fatigue.
As a result, a stressed person has difficulty coping with contact with colleagues and, as a result, withdraws into himself. His reactions are amplified, and he becomes very nervous, sad, and anxious.
The resurgence of diseases
During the onset of workplace stress, the entire body is on alert. It produces and releases significant amounts of adrenaline and cortisol. These two hormones cause an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, as well as a slowdown in immune defense mechanisms.
This mechanism, which is supposed to provide natural protection against risk or danger, plunges the body into a situation of temporary hypervigilance. Once the danger has passed, the body resumes its normal functioning, and the heart rate decreases.
However, this causes more or less fatigue, and illnesses follow one after the other.
Physical pain
The manifestation of work stress can be observed in physical pain in the joints. For example, back pain, muscle tension, or migraines.
So, at the end of the day, if you get a headache with a feeling of pressure, it could mean that it is work-related tension.
What are the causes of stress at work?
Generally speaking, work-related stress can arise from the combination of high demands and little control over the situation. So, what causes stress at work?
Frustration
Frustration is a source of stress at work. It often occurs when:
- The efforts made are not commensurate with the rewards obtained
- A promotion is expected, but it never materialized
- Injustices are noticed within the same team, where some employees are sidelined while others are at the forefront
Moral harassment
In the workplace, moral harassment is one of the biggest sources of stress. It is different from abuse of power and represents abusive behavior towards the victim of harassment.
This misconduct can come from a superior or a colleague. The latter uses all the necessary techniques to destabilize or destroy his victim through humiliation.
In reality, some bosses demonstrate a lack of kindness or humanity. They don’t hesitate to belittle their subordinates in front of their colleagues.
Even better, they have difficulty recognizing the value of their colleagues, which creates significant psychological damage for the employees in question.
Lack of communication in the office
Well-being at work requires good communication within the company. Conversely, a lack of communication or non-existence can lead to misunderstandings, fears, and unspoken ideas that can undermine employee productivity and fulfillment.
Some employees have trouble fitting into a team. They have difficulty sharing their feelings and are unable to formulate a request or even assert themselves.
In this way, chronic stress that can trigger burnout in the weakest can be caused by:
- rivalries
- a lack of communication
- conflictual interpersonal relationships
The demands of the hierarchy
The workplace is synonymous with performance. It’s only natural that line managers demand consistency with the company’s goals, whether it’s:
- of results
- speed of action
- of perfect mastery of the position
- of astonishing schedules and consequently of the denial of a family life.
Anything that leads to abandoning personal balance as soon as its stakes are accepted.
What are the consequences of stress at work?
The after-effects of work-related stress come in several forms.
The consequences of work-related stress for the company
As a company, when we fail to better manage stress, we see psychosocial risks that disrupt activities. As such, these psychosocial risks can cause:
- an increase in absenteeism and turnover;
- problems renewing staff or recruiting new employees;
- an increase in work accidents;
- demotivation, decreased creativity, and increased burnout;
- a decline in productivity and an increase in rejects or poor workmanship;
- a deterioration of the social climate and a poor working atmosphere;
- damage to the company’s image…
- a loss of income (on average, stress at work costs companies between 800 and 1.6 billion euros per year)…
The consequences of work-related stress for employees
As an employee, poor stress management at work can have adverse health effects. This can have physical consequences, such as facial flushing, a racing heart, and high blood sugar levels.
Work-related stress can also lead to:
- The rise in tension.
- a significant risk of diabetes;
- sleep problems;
- pain and stiffness;
- digestive disorders (bloating, diarrhea, stomach aches);
- great fatigue;
- nervousness;
- a disturbance in libido;
- dermatological problems (psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, eczema);
- weight loss and burnout…
What solutions are there to combat stress at work?
There are effective solutions for stress management in the workplace. The first is to assess the extent to which the situation is modifiable, or conversely, irreversible. If the situation is unchangeable (conflict of values, industry, profession, etc.), you and your health should find a job more aligned with your personality and make a fresh start.
If the situation presents possible areas for improvement, it is necessary to:
- Separate professional life from personal life.
- Stop responding to messages during break times.
- Take a step back and spend time with your family.
- Think about setting up a relaxation ritual.
- Do some real work on yourself…
Similarly, to avoid stress at work and cope with pressures, it is important to modify the work environment in order to have a better quality of life at work.
Most importantly, it is crucial to consult a psychologist.
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