Work is a common source of unhappiness and stress.
Studies have concluded that the number of burned-out, stressed out or chronically stressed individuals is between one-quarter and one-third of the work force.
Leaders and workers must be fully present and engaged at work, in a state of health and well-being. Problems at work are more strongly associated with health complaints than any other factor in people’s lives, even financial or family troubles.
While they may fail to realize the health implications, people at work are acutely aware of stress. A recent survey by a national insurance company shows 40 percent of workers report their jobs are very or extremely stressful and 25 percent of employees view their jobs as the top stressor in their lives.
Stress happens when:
· We fail to meet deadlines, budgets or other goals.
· We have ambiguous job responsibilities.
· We perceive a lack of control over tasks.
· We have a sudden upsurge in tasks.
· We have conflicts with others.
· We feel we have little control over our work lives
The Costs of Stress
Stress depletes our physical, emotional and mental resources, which ultimately reduces companies’ productivity and profits.
Healthcare costs for stressed workers are 46 percent higher. Total stress-related business costs (disability, death, insurance, medical expenses, accidents, loss of employees, sick leave and reduced/lost productivity) total between $250 billion and $300 billion annually in the United States.
When we are asked to sustain too great a load for too long a time, there’s an undeniable detrimental outcome. Business owners, executives and leaders are particularly at risk for putting themselves in highly charged environments, where expectations of surviving successfully are high and there are few timeouts for recuperation.
How to Reduce your Stress
- Exercise is still the best way to increase your stress tolerance
- Do more of the “Good Things”
- Eat low-fat, low sugar foods
- Smoke LESS, not more
- Drink LESS, not more
- Get plenty of sleep (without sleeping pills)
- Schedule something you love to do into every day
- Notice and talk about successes – yours and those of others
- Relax
- Breathe deeply, check that you are breathing deeply several times a day
- Use relaxation techniques
- Respond to today
- Stop imagining the worst; in fact, risk imagining the best – it’s just as likely and just as real a possibility
- Stop worrying about what might go wrong
- Start looking for your opportunities to shine
- Stay focussed on what you can reasonably get done today
- Ask “What will really happen if this doesn’t get done today?”
- Set realistic deadlines, and be willing to change them.
With thanks to Coach2Coach newsletter, 26th November 2008
