The use of the term stress has surged in today’s time. Stress is not unique as it is experienced by almost everyone, even by working professionals.
Stress in simple terms can be defined as a response to anything that one considers as threatening, pressurizing, or challenging. There are multiple stressors in the workplace. Stressors are anything that causes stress in an individual. Some common stressors at a workplace are as follows –
the workload (too much and too little workload, both can cause stress),
external factors like excessive noise, heat, cold, smell, exposure to a chemical, etc.,
absence of or minimal control over the tasks of a job,
conflicts with colleagues and bosses,
harassment,
violence,
lack of clarity regarding the behavior expected in a job,
too many supervisors and roles one needs to perform,
lack of social support from colleagues,
poor work-life balance, etc.
Some amount of stress can lead to better performance and productivity however when it exceeds too much then the stress can be harmful. Work stress has negative effects which need to be taken into account. The following are some effects of stress –
dizziness,
pain in the chest,
headaches,
muscle tension,
increase in heart rate,
disturbances in sleep and digestion,
low levels of energy,
forgetfulness and difficulty in concentration,
changes in one’s appetite,
restlessness,
anger,
worry,
fear,
depression,
mood swings,
procrastination,
reduced performance at work,
intake of alcohol or drugs, etc.
There are certain tips one can follow to cope with work stress, these tips are as follows –
practice deep breathing, yoga, meditation,
engage in regular exercise,
talk to a loved one,
engage in hobbies.
These tips can be beneficial when the level of work stress experienced is low, however, you can always reach out to a mental health professional when the level of stress experienced is high or when one faces difficulty in coping with stress.
Importance of Professional Counseling: A friend or family member may listen to you, but they aren’t professionally, technically qualified or experienced to offer you professional advice. If you wish you can contact us at MindTribe to receive help from our team of expert psychologists.
About MindTribe.in.
MindTribe Founder Dr. Prerna Kohli, India’s eminent psychologist, established the company to leverage the strength of the online to make counseling affordable and accessible to everyone. MindTribe provides counseling, workshops, support groups, forums, and eLearning.
About the Author.
Kamakshi Sabharwal is a psychologist at MindTribe.in. You can learn more about her by clicking here
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of MindTribe.in, the Founders, or management team.
Acknowledgement: All images used are open source and from Unsplash.