Reducing Job Related Stress

Why should you care about your emotional well being? What does this have to do with career development? Healthy equals happy. Happy equals productive. Happy and productive equals success. On the other hand, stress decreases health and happiness. There is more than one type of health. There is physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Unchecked stress can lead to insomnia, high blood pressure, relationship problems, teeth grinding, headaches, general aches/pains, irritability, fatigue, and poor concentration (along with a long list of other conditions). Why is this relevant in career development? Stress often originates from our professional lives, and stress from our personal lives can also affect our professional lives.

What is stress, other than an ambiguous term that we may overuse? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, stress is ” a physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension and may be a factor in disease causation.” One advantage you have is that you are reading this article now…not 10 or 20 years from now. You are getting the jump on how to manage stress. What’s the best way to manage stress? The best way is to minimize or prevent it in the first place. First, you need to be able to identify potential stressors. Start paying attention to situations or conditions that make you feel on edge, pressured, nervous, or sad.

When evaluating potential careers, pay attention to the lifestyles that are associated with different positions. Are you someone that works well alone or do you perform better in groups? How much supervision do you strive under? What classes do you enjoy? What activities or jobs have you had that didn’t feel like work? What time or times of the day do you get the most work done? For example, if you need more structure or are distracted easily, working from home may not be a good strategy for you. How do you deal with new places or new people? If this is not your strongsuit, consulting may not be for you. I suspect you’re getting the gist of this now. All of these questions boil down to looking for the best fit for a career or job. The better the fit, the less potential for stress the position provides.

After you have identified potential stressors and thoroughly researched what types of careers fit you, it is time for action. The key to stress management is actively taking steps to minimize stress in your life. What are some simple things you can do? You can avoid unnecessary stress. Make sure that you plan enough time to complete tasks. Put an end to procrastination. Procrastination is one of the singlehanded most controllable causes of stress and worry. Just do; don’t think about doing. Also, don’t get so tied up in social networking and video games that you are distracted from your tasks. Twitter and Facebook aren’t going anywhere. Don’t be afraid to say “no.” Overextending yourself is draining and distracting from necessary tasks. Strive to consistently manage your To-Do list. Break up the larger tasks/goals into to smaller ones. Prioritize your tasks. Work needs to be confined to work. Do your best to avoid taking work home, avoid working late consistently, avoid not taking lunch breaks or health breaks, and avoid skipping vacations. You need some time to recharge to maximize productivity. Also, you need some down time to stay physically healthy.

Here are some healthy life tips to decrease stress.

• Make sure you get plenty of sleep.
• Don’t forget to exercise and eat healthy meals regularly. Coffee, Mountain Dew, and caffeinated drinks do not count as meals.
• Avoid getting so caught up in class and work that you forget activities that relax you and bring you enjoyment. Maintaining balance in your life will do wonders to prevent stress.
• Minimize time around people that increase stress in your life, bring negativity, or discourage you.
• Seek out people that are a positive influence in your personal and professional life.

If you cannot totally avoid a stressful situation, take charge of relieving the stress. Make an effort to modify the situation. You are not powerless. Assertiveness is key, especially when in professional environments. Make a plan to minimize the stressful condition. Reevaluate strategies and time management. Look to mentors and close friends for advice. Don’t concentrate on the negative. Look for the positive side, and focus on the big picture. Is this stressor temporary or ongoing? Is it manageable or overwhelming? What can be done to change the situation? If you find you need to talk more about your situation and people around you are not enough, speak to a therapist. Therapists get paid to listen to you in a nonjudgemental manner and assist you in problem solving. None of us know it all, so learning new coping skills is never a bad thing. Getting additional help is effective problem solving. This is not a sign of weakness. This is truly a sign of strength.

Minimizing and managing stress are skills that are integral to being personally and professionally successful. Developing these skills early puts you ahead of the game. These tools assist you in seeking out careers and work environments that fit your personality and maximize your job satisfaction. At the end of the day, work should not be torture. If you realize that the job or career that you have chosen is not the best fit, you can explore other options. Career development is a fluid process. Recognizing this can also decrease chronic stress from being in a field or job that you do not enjoy. Taking active steps to minimize stress will enhance your health and happiness. Identifying stressful situations and taking active steps to prevent or reverse the stress are keys. Remember, the critical word is ACTIVE. Integrating these tools into your life will assist you in living longer, happier life. Isn’t that the universal goal?