Stressed On The Job: Tips To Manage the Load

by Kristy Como Armand

Ahh, stress… it’s nothing new.

It affects us in many ways through many avenues. “Stress is part of being human; it’s the way our body reacts to being under pressure,” explains Keri Forbess-McCorquodale, MS, CEAP, LPC-S, LMFT, president of Solutions Counseling & EAP. “While some stress can be a good motivator, too much can become debilitating.”

She says one potential source of stress in modern life comes from our job, which is known as “occupational stress.” It’s the stress that comes from the responsibilities, conditions, environments or other pressures of the workplace.

There are multiple sources of occupational stress, according to Forbess-McCorquodale. She offers several examples:
• Personal self-growth in a job is important. If an employee feels as though they are in a position where there’s no more growth to be had, this can lead to an increase in occupational stress.
• Conflict among colleagues, combined with a feeling of a lack of support from managers or leaders, can increase the stress felt by employees due to feeling isolated.
• An employee who experiences regular concerns about termination, loss of wages, and/or cuts to benefits will have issues with their sense of job security, leading to increased stress.

“One of the most common signs of job stress is the lack of motivation to complete the basic tasks of the work day,” says Forbess-McCorquodale. “Some other symptoms include constantly missing deadlines, frequent displays of stress or confusion, anxiety, changes in diet, changes in sleep patterns, irritability and an inability to perform in a productive manner.”

If you are experiencing these types of symptoms, Forbess-McCorquodale offers some advice for reducing your occupational stress:

Control your working deadlines. Maintain a diligent, reasonable work pace so you can prevent procrastination and consistently finish the tasks you begin. This will help eliminate the feeling of being overloaded, overworked, or overwhelmed.

Take a break. Everyone needs time to relax and taking breaks is a great way to de-stress and return to work with a fresh mindset. Getting outside for 10 minutes to get some fresh air is a great way to use your time on break.

Track stressors. Be alert during your workday to identify the situations that create the most stress for you. This can give you a better understanding of how you may react to certain situations and bring to light patterns you may have been unaware of. Once you know this, you can take steps to break those patterns.

Ask for support. Accepting help from someone you trust can improve your ability to manage stress better. You can reach out to friends, family, or other co-workers who you trust. If you continue to feel overwhelmed by work stress, seek help from a therapist.

“Effectively managing work stress is key to maintaining productivity, well-being, and overall job satisfaction,” adds Forbess-McCorquodale. “Recognizing and taking control of the factors are important first steps.”

If you need help managing the stress in your life, call Solutions Counseling & EAP at (337) 310-2822 to schedule an appointment.