Suggestions for minimizing stress at work.
Stress is part of our everyday life. We're stressed by planning a wedding, expecting a baby, having a dinner party, going to the dentist, or giving a speech. Those events will pass in a given period of time and so will the stress they created. But our jobs go on day after day and the stress that goes on there can take a toll on mental and physical health. If quitting the job and going elsewhere is not an option, there are things you can do to minimize or eliminate the stress.
Try to find the source of the stress. Is it the job, the boss, the environment, or just one annoying person? Or are you having so much stress in your personal life that it carries over to the job? Working toward a resolution is easier once you've identified the source.
The job:
* Do you understand your job description? If not, ask your boss or supervisor to explain it to you.
* Are you doing work outside of your job description? If you are, again, speak to a person in authority.
* Do you have too much responsibility? Taking on more than you can do means that nothing gets done right. Try to delegate the work to someone who has more time.
* Make lists of what needs to be accomplished in a day and check them off as they get done. Making lists for a week or a month can be overwhelming.
* You are not what you do for a living. If the boss didn't like your presentation or article or the job you did today, it doesn't diminish who you are. It simply means he didn't like what you did today. Do it differently tomorrow.
The boss:
* How do you tell a boss that he's annoying, overbearing, or just a real pain? Sometimes sitting down for a frank discussion can bring problems into the open. Your boss may not realize that he's the source of stress. If there's no time at work, or you're uncomfortable with that, meet for lunch or after work for a cup of coffee or a drink .
The environment:
* Is there enough light in your workplace?
* Is the ventilation adequate?
* Is there too much noise?
These three things are health issues and need to be brought to the attention of a supervisor.
* If nothing else, can your space be brightened by flowers or plants or a fresh coat of paint?
That one annoying person:
* Think about what it is that annoys you about that person. Do you know him or her well enough to know if there are personal issues at home that cause the annoying behavior? Maybe she/he has a miserable home life. Maybe a parent or child is ill or a divorce is looming in the near future. Get to know that person a little better during a coffee or lunch break.
* If the problem is the person who seems to know it all, including how to do your job, politely point out that you were hired for that specific job and the person who hired you knew what he was doing.
* It's said that every person who comes into our life is there to teach us something. Look at yourself; is that annoying person here to teach you patience, kindness, or tolerance?
Personal problems:
* It's not easy to put personal problems on the back burner while we're at work; they seem to tag along like a stray dog. But, in reality, you can't do anything about those problems while you're at work and you can't do your job while you're stressing about personal issues. Try to create a separate folder in your mind labeled HOME and put those worries there for eight hours a day. This takes practice, but it can be done.
* If you have a co-worker who is also a friend, talk about the things that are bothering you. There may be no resolution, but talking to someone seems to lighten our load and often gives us another perspective.
Work consumers nearly one-third of our lives. Spending that amount of time in a stressful situation is unfulfilling and unhealthy. If you're stressed because you absolutely hate your job, find something you do like. While money is the real reason we go to work, doing what we love is what brings satisfaction.
