Stress is something we joke about and don’t really take as seriously as it deserves to be taken.
Did you know that in the worst cases, when left to mount up and increase, stress can actually be deadly?
It’s true. Stress puts you at risk of serious mental and physical health problems which can prove extremely serious over the long-term. For instance, prolonged chronic stress can increase your chances of heart disease, which in turn gives you a greater chance of having a heart attack. That’s just one example from a long list.
Workplace stress is on the rise. At the moment we’re living in uncertain times generally and this certainly has a knock-on effect where work is concerned. Even when we’re not living through a worldwide pandemic, workplace stress is a problem. Uneven workloads, unfair deadlines, conflict, and poor management are all common causes of workplace stress.
The problem is, we spend a lot of time sitting at our office desks so that means a lot of time spent in a state of stress too. There are many ways to help combat stress in the workplace, and in a moment we’re going to talk about one of the easiest and most effective. For now, however, check out this infographic which gives a few useful ideas on how to knock workplace stress out of the door for good.
Source - https://www.syntax.co.uk/top-tips-to-staying-stress-free-in-the-workplace/
One of the points on the infographic is ‘don’t be afraid to communicate’. However, many employees are still worried about approaching their manager and admitting that they’re feeling under pressure and stressed. This has to change if we want to reduce workplace stress and it’s damaging effects.
One of the best ways to make it easier for employees to approach you as a manager is to have an open door policy. This means that you are always available to discuss any problems with your employees and you let them know that. It means you don’t sit in your office, behind your executive office desk, with your door closed and your back turned. It means that you’re open and happy to talk to employees about anything that is bothering them.
That makes the entire process of talking about stress far easier and it also helps to boost workplace happiness and morale.
A high quality manager is approachable and understanding. This helps to knock down the stigma that is still somehow attached to stress and helps stress relief in the office to become a real thing.
Believe it or not, it is entirely possible to go through your working days without feeling stressed and overwhelmed. It is entirely possible to enjoy your work and the challenges it brings, without worrying or feeling like you’ve got too much on your plate. It all comes down to having the right amount of support and being able to accept help when you need it.
Whatever the source of your workplace stress, the ability to talk to your manager about it and receive support from your colleagues too, is vital.