Decode and tackle your stress

The effect will probably depend on the level of stress you experience. The ways in which we react to stress are very individual.

Read this guide on how to tackle stress:

Address conflict without adding to it.

Conflicts are going to happen at any job. Between co-workers, between workers and management — it’s inevitable. What you do with that conflict, though, determines if it’ll be a stress point or not.

Don’t let conflict continue.

If there’s a fight between employees, or you are an employee and are butting heads with someone else, it needs to be addressed. Use conflict management solutions outlined in the employee handbook. Ignoring conflict doesn’t make it go away. It makes it get bigger.

Address loyalty.

48% of workers who say their employers aren’t loyal to them are dissatisfied with their job stress levels. Only 26% of workers who say their employers are loyal to them feel like they have too much job stress. Being in a culture of loyalty and trust reduces unnecessary stress significantly.

Avoid irregular work schedules.

Salaried workers don’t have to deal with varying work schedules, but hourly employees do. And it’s a huge stressor. Almost 30% of workers with irregular schedules report having serious work and family conflicts over the issue.

Make wellness a part of the workplace.

Since stress can create physical illness, doing what you can to keep your employees healthy can combat stress. There are several ways employers can encourage wellness:- Gym memberships.- Provide healthy snacks.- Encourage breaks.

Know the difference between good stress and bad stress.

Not all stress is bad, and not all stress can (or should) be avoided. Good stress motivates you. Deadlines, tests, or being asked to speak in front of other people — these are all situations that create stress, but they are also what motivates us. Good stress tends to be short-term, and can even enhance or improve brain function. Bad stress, however, is chronic. It is constant and ongoing, a situation that never lets up. A singular deadline may be motivating, but if you’re under a deluge of deadlines that you aren’t able to meet, you’re in the realm of bad stress. Bad stress harms your health, slows you down, and can even start to inhibit thinking.

Learn to identify signs of stress.

You might not even know you’re feeling stressed. Sounds strange, but it’s possible. Even if you don’t know the true level of stress you’re feeling, your body does. The damage that stress does happens whether you are aware it’s bad or not.

There are several signs that stress might be affecting you:

- Feeling anxious, grumpy, or depressed.- Feeling apathy or disinterest in your job.- Feeling overwhelming dread about your job.- Difficulty getting a good night’s sleep.- General fatigue and tiredness.- Difficulty in concentrating on tasks.- Tight or sore muscles.- Stomach pains.- Headaches.- Socially withdrawing from others

If you see a pattern like this list in your life, you need to take action.

Tell someone you are struggling with stress.It helps to tell someone that you’re struggling with stress, whether that’s a manager or a coworker. They may be able to help you, or point you to someone who can.

Consider outcomes you’d like to see.

Before you go speak with a manager, have a few ideas of what a resolution would look like. You may get a chance to offer them as a solution. Know the specific source of stress and offer ways to resolve it.

Form positive relationships as much as you can.

Some people start a job with a chip on their shoulder, and seem to set out to make everyone there miserable. Set a goal for yourself to smile and be positive. Not everyone is outgoing or makes friendships easily. And no one is asking you to make your co-workers your best friends. But you can set out to be positive towards others, avoiding negativity as much as is in your control.

Be a good listener.

Be sincere but generous in complimenting someone else’s work. Help someone who needs it. Be willing to teach or mentor someone with less experience than you. Avoid gossiping or speaking negatively about anyone else on the job. If conflict or problems have to be addressed, use positive language and avoid accusations or painting someone in a negative light.

Stand or sit.

Stand more if you sit a lot. Sit if you stand a lot. If you sit, you’re wearing out your back. If you stand, your feet get tired. Break things up, give your body a break. Move around. Walk on your break. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Stretch your muscles.

Consume less caffeine and sugar.

Excessive use of caffeine and sugar make you edgy and jumpy. Consuming more than 350 mg of caffeine a day can cause energy-sapping dehydration issues. Eat fruits and vegetables instead of candy or carbs. Drink water or herbal tea instead of soda and coffee.

If you’re sick, stay home.

Your body is already struggling. No need to add even minor, regular work stress to the load.The first thing to do when you feel stressed is to address the physical first. It might be enough to do the trick in that moment.

Take the breaks you are given.

Take your allotted breaks.

Find a way to help others.

Oddly enough, when you help other people, you feel great.It sounds crazy — when you’re super stressed, who has time to help someone else? — but turning your attention from yourself to someone else can relieve the self-feeding negativity that serious stress creates.

Prepare ahead of time as much as possible.

The most stressful time of the day for workers is the morning, or when they start their shift. You can’t always prepare everything ahead of time. If someone leaves a mess when you arrive for your shift, there’s not much you can do about it other than try to work with them and get them to do better. How you start your work day sets the tone for the rest of it. If you start it in a panic, a rush, the whole day is going to be stressful. It’ll feel as if you never get caught up or on good footing.