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Feeling out of control and unable to manage the workload can be overwhelming and often it is this that becomes a trigger for more stressful events to come. Adopting a positive mental attitude is the first step in stress management but when you really are bombarded with a mass of difficult situations – too much work, difficult clients, poor time management skills, it can seem like an uphill battle and guess what? The more you panic the harder it gets.
So what type of stress inducers could you be up against on a daily basis?
• Bullying sadly still takes place in the work-place. You might find that you have an unpleasant colleague or a toxic boss making it difficult for you to learn the ropes or to progress.
• Job security
especially in the current climate can be a real pressure. You might be given a temporary contract 3-6 months and this can lead to you worrying about your future work-prospects.
• You may be thrown in at the deep end without sufficient training to help ease the way. This leads to a lack of confidence straight away.
• You have some forthcoming deadlines with little chance of success.
• Too much work can be very difficult to handle. It’s important that time-management skills are in place and having the ability to prioritise
is a vital component too.
• Communication can be poor in the work-place meaning that important information is not always handed down in a timely manner. This can be worrying if your head is on the line regarding the smooth running of operations.
• Working in a poor physical environment can be unpleasant or frustrating. Perhaps you sit under an air conditioning unit or in a windowless room. Equally if you are not provided with the necessary work-tools this can add unnecessary pressure to your working day.
Many people will be able to relate to some of these situations and with experience often comes the ability to be able to manage somewhat difficult situations and to ensure that they do not have a long-lasting impact on you. The important aspect of stress management is learning what triggers off a negative reaction within you and learning to neatly side-step and manage it without it becoming a sense of frustration.
You might not even realise that you are stressed, enjoying the feeling of pressure and your seemingly good ability to be able to rise to the challenge but are you experiencing any of the following symptoms?
• Difficulty in making decisions or having poor judgement?
• A lack of focus?
• Feelings of irritability, lack of sense of humour of feeling depressed
• Physical symptoms such as headaches, sleeplessness, constant feelings of fatigue, breathlessness
The problem with stress is that it becomes hugely magnified if you have no-one to turn to. Small problems can so easily become way out of proportion. It’s important just how you identify with stress and how you deal with it on a personal level:
• Practice relaxation techniques to help ease the pressure
• Learn to look after yourself with a good diet and some healthy living.
• Try to avoid working long hours. Take regular breaks to refresh your brain cells and to improve focus.
• Take regular holidays when possible. Being able to switch off from the daily grind really is a life-saver.
Stressful situations impact everyone and whilst it can feel isolating when you are under a lot of pressure, in reality, you are not alone, others feel the same way. Try to have someone to talk to when you feel that work is getting you down but equally, learn how to rise above some of the stressors and learn to respond in a positive way, channelling your energy instead of giving into the stress. Every job sadly can inflict seemingly unmanageable situations on to you, so it’s vital that you learn to manage any problems head on.