From time to time it’s totally normal to feel a little overwhelmed or stressed out. Most of us go through periods of time when we feel this way, perhaps due to a heavy workload or maybe even a personal issue which is causing our mind to wander throughout the day.
When this feeling persists over a period of time however, it can lead to prolonged stress.
We don’t need to tell you how dangerous stress can be, especially if it remains a part of your life for a period of time. Not only can stress lead to mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression, but it can also affect your physical health, putting extra strain on your heart and dampening down your immune system. With all of this in mind, we should certainly be more open to talking about our feelings when we feel stressed, and looking at ways to manage it, without hiding behind office space dividers and keeping everything to ourselves.
For a quick take on the most common causes of stress and some the symptoms related to it, check out this useful infographic.
Source: www.infographicsarchive.com/health-beauty-safety/stress-work-symptoms-causes-beat
According to the HSE, in 2017/18, the average person suffering from stress, anxiety, or depression took around 25.8 days off per year. Aside from the physical and mental problems that stress can cause, that’s also lost revenue for a business too. Of course, health is more important than money, but a business which is facing a stress epidemic is going to lose money quicker than it can blink.
For this reason and many others, it’s important to speak up when you feel overwhelmed. There is no reason for you to feel this way during your working day, perhaps hiding behind your office screens and trying not to let your problems show.
Speaking up
The first thing you should do is listen to your mind and your body and ascertain how you feel. If you truly feel overwhelmed and you’re noticing the warning signs, it’s time to have a conversation with your line manager. Understandably, many employees find this difficult, because there is a stigma attached to stress even today. Forget the stigma – there is no weakness in admitting that you’re struggling, it’s actually a huge strength to be able to recognise how you’re feeling and act upon it accordingly. It could also be the case that your manager simply doesn’t realise that he or she is giving you too much work to do – speaking up will change that!
So, how to do it? It’s best not to go down the formal route, and to keep things as casual as possible. If you need to make an appointment to speak to your manager, do so, but otherwise you can ask you can have a quick chat, perhaps on the office sofa if it is in a quiet space, when they have five minutes spare.
From there, simply explain how you’re feeling. Try and stay calm and keep your emotions in check, but tell your manager that you’re struggling, explain the symptoms you’re experiencing and state that you’d appreciate it if you could maybe delegate some of your workload at the moment, or make some changes to your working environment and office equipment to help you deal better with the situation.
There is no quality manager out there who is going to laugh in your face or shake their head in disgust. Stress is such a common and complex issue that any manager worth their salt would be concerned and act accordingly. They might suggest you take some time off, they might suggest you make use of the desk pods for a little privacy, or they might suggest you delegate some of your workload until you’re feeling a little stronger. Whatever they suggest, talk about it between yourselves and come to the conclusion which suits you best.
From there, agree to review the situation in a week or so. Your manager will no doubt want to check in on you again and make sure you’re feeling okay. This isn’t to monitor what you’re doing, it’s to check on your welfare.
Having this discussion may be nerve-wracking, and that’s completely understandable, but your manager isn’t there to shout and judge, they’re there to support and encourage.