Work stress is a widely recognized concern in organizations, according to the International Labor Organization (ILO) “more than 2 million people die every year from work-related diseases” (high blood pressure, musculoskeletal disorders, etc).
Employers cannot shield employees from the pressure they may face at the home, but there are various ways in which work stress can be reduced or dealt with.
What Is Work Stress?
This is usually the reaction employees may have after being presented with tasks or work which demands a higher skill set and/or resources, it can also be a result of long non-flexible work hours and heavy workload.
Symptoms of work-related stress:
– Irritability or outbursts of anger.
– Low productivity is accompanied by feelings of low achievement.
– Being accident-prone.
– Become unable to relax or concentrate.
– Have difficulty thinking logically and making decisions.
– Serious physical problems: heart disease, high blood pressure, and headaches.
Five (5) Ways to Prevent Stress in The Workplace:
1) Ergonomics
Ergonomics is the study of people in their work environment, precisely dealing with alterations that best fit the employee in order to reduce discomfort and the risk of injuries. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported ergonomic injuries of 33% in 2013 and 27.2% in 2018, therefore, by administering an ergonomic blend in the workplace employees are more comfortable and therefore there is an increase in productivity.
2) Employee Training
Training allows employees to strengthen the qualities (skills, knowledge) they each possess, the skill set and knowledge of every employee should match the needs of their job, by providing the necessary training organizations not only creates knowledgeable employees who can cover for each other as needed, the skill to efficiently work on teams and/or independently, but it also heightens the feeling of value and shows the organizations’ commitment to providing resourceful needs.
3) Take Time to Recharge
Taking time off to recharge is simply a necessity, our mental health plays a major role in our everyday life, and sometimes decluttering the mind is key to increasing productivity, helping us to concentrate and to be able to make logical decisions.
4) Balance Your Work and Personal Life
Having a balance between your work and personal life tends to reduce burnout and may help you avoid potential stress. It can be whether you do this by having set work hours and sticking to them or setting aside time for socializing. It is extremely important to set clear boundaries between your work and personal life.
5) Relaxation Strategies
When the body feels stressed it responds by releasing hormones that raise your blood pressure and heart rate, relaxation techniques help the body to relax, and counter the stress response, relaxation also helps with the fight-or-flight response. It can be defined in a medically reviewed article as an automatic response to “when we are in the presence of something that is mentally or physically terrifying.” (Kendra Cherry, How the Fight-or-Flight Response Works.)
Work stress comes from mismanagement of workload and inaccessibility to balance. Scheduling of tasks can also affect a person’s mind as well. It is essential to keep in mind the five principles discussed. Understand the ergonomics of your workspace as well as strengthen employee training, take time to rejuvenate, learn balance, and implement relaxation strategies.
We hope this article helps you to learn some management techniques as well as a key balance to avoid being overwhelmed with stress!
