Managing Workplace Stress
How do I manage stress in the workplace?
Time Management
It is a problem that almost everyone would recognise; too much
to do and too little time. Whatever your circumstances you have
inevitably experienced this dilemma. There is no solution to this
problem but the following might help;
Have realistic expectations. In other words, know your limits.
People often take on more than can humanly be done!
Prioritise
This is easy to say but make the effort to put it into practice.
Think to yourself 'what absolutely must be done today and what can
be left until later?'
Learn to say no. At work, at home, with friends; sometimes you need
to look after number one.
Sleep
It sounds obvious, but a night without restful sleep is a recipe
for disaster. Whether it's difficulty falling asleep, waking up in
the night or waking too early and not being able to get back to
sleep - it can wear a person down and leave them in no state to
face the day's problems. Feeling less able to cope can mean feeling
stressed more easily and feeling stressed can mean finding it
harder to get a restful nights sleep - a vicious circle.
Losing your temper
When pressure mounts up people can become defensive, frustrated
or just generally bad tempered. It might seem trivial - after all
we all forgive someone when we know they're having a bad day - but
it is an effect that mounts up and can do real damage to work and
personal relationships.
Time for me
Everybody's heard the cliché of 'booking an appointment with
yourself'. Cringeworthy as that saying is; it is a very real and
important skill. Time out for ourselves is another casualty of
modern living but it need not be a two week cruise in the Bahamas
it could be 20 minutes with a book, a 10 minute walk, a gym
membership or setting aside time for a home study course.
Aches and pains
It is actually very common to experience physical sensations
during or following a very stressful period. This makes good sense
when you think about what stress is for in an evoluntionary sense.
Early humans needed a rush of chemicals, a faster beating heart and
their digestion stopped when they were preparing for danger (what
is called 'fight or flight'). However, in modern life, a run in
with the photocopier might lead to the same response.
How
should organisations manage the pressures of a changing workplace
culture?