It seems like stress is such an overused word today. Whether someone is saying they’re stressed out, or just under too much stress, or is blaming their current health problems on stress – it seems to be the catch-all word of the moment. According to Merriam-Webster, stress is a physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension and may be a factor in disease causation. And, since most people spend more time at work than they do awake at home, job stress is a big part of many people’s lives today.
Job stress is stress caused by the day-to-day pressures, conflicts and expectations placed on you in the workplace. Eliminating job stress is especially problematic because, unlike many other stressors, most people don’t have the luxury of simply quitting a stressful job. Since you can’t completely eliminate job stress, learning how to cope with it is especially important to your health and job performance.
It is helpful to make your work space your own, as much as is possible. Decorate your workspace with pictures and reminders of what you’re working for – your spouse, your children, a special destination you’re saving up to visit, even your pets. If possible in your place of work, job stress can be further alleviated with a carefully chosen aromatherapy room or body spray that leaves you feeling refreshed.
Eating right and hydrating properly is another important part of managing job stress. With the daily pressures that cause job stress, it’s easy to forget to eat or drink throughout the day. But a quick, healthy lunch, like a salad or sandwich, can give you a physical and mental boost, contributing to overall health on the job and beyond. And, staying hydrated is equally important to reducing job stress by promoting health. If necessary, keep a bottle of water at your desk throughout the day.
Taking regular breaks is also important to keeping job stress at a minimum. Just like eating, taking work breaks throughout our day is also something that many people forget, or don’t bother, doing. But taking a break from your work, even a short one, can leave you feeling refreshed and better prepared to tackle the task at hand.
Once you understand what job stress is you can take small steps to counter it that will make a big difference. Lowering job stress will make you a happier, more confident person, and increase your job performance.