Impact of Stress Management at the Workplace
I recently came across an article, which said, around 89%, or in other words, 9 out of 10 people in India suffer from stress at the workplace. This is above the global figure of 86%.
Honestly, I feel these figures are alarming, and you too may agree to it.
Stress is something that has got long-running mental, physical, and social repercussions. It is practically impossible to operate under pressure for a very long time. This is the reason why it is high time, employers, and employees must look at stress management seriously.
Good things are happening around, but employers need to scale up their efforts to keep stress at bay, or at least not let it aggravate.
With this blog, I will emphasize the impact of stress management at the workplace. In a way, I will be referring to the different techniques of stress management, and of course, the benefits associated with it.
What is Stress?
Let us begin with understanding the meaning of stress.
Stress is something that causes mental, emotional, or physical strain. It is a result of something in excess, which in the corporate context could be work, stringent deadlines, late working, ill-treatment, domestic concerns, etc.
Stress can have a profound impact on the individual’s health, thinking abilities, creativity, and subsequently, performance.
As an employer, it is, therefore, imperative for you to help your employees cope up with stress, and stay naturally active.
Here, I am not talking about eliminating stress. Of course, that isn’t practically possible.
I am referring to managing stress levels, and at the same time, helping people deal with stress a lot more effectively.
So, how do you do it? Here are 7 effective stress management techniques, which you can teach your employees at your workplace, and help them implement them.
7 Ways of Stress Management at the Workplace
- A Good Beginning leads to a Great Day Ahead!
I know it isn’t as easy! I mean, after a business Skype call at 5.30 in the morning, followed by making your way out of the daunting traffic, and still reaching in time at the office, is no small achievement!
So, in such a situation, you begin your day with stress. Furthermore, the workload at the office keeps adding to it throughout the day. Excessive pressure may cloud your thoughts and render you hopeless about these circumstances.
But, believe you me you can still start your day on a lovely note!
So, how do you do it?
Plan your day and stick to your routine. But, simultaneously be prepared for those sudden calls or situations.
Stay determined enough to rise to the alarm, and begin your day with some light exercises.
Eat healthily. Especially if you are always on the move, you may not get to eat healthy food throughout the day. So, ensure that you at least start your day with a fair amount of nutritional stuff.
Follow this for the first 21 days (to make it a habit), and start feeling the difference. I am sure the result will be positive. I do it regularly and feel great about it.
- Stay Organized and Clear
Honestly, it isn’t always the employers that stress their employees out.
At times, the employees aren’t organized, as they aren’t clear on the objectives. They don’t know what they do and why do they do something. Remember, this may run them into stress.
If you are an employee reading this, let me tell you, staying confused won’t lead you anywhere. Before getting into something, ensure that you know the objectives of the task, which will, in turn, help you organize your stuff.
The more organized you are, the less stressful a job gets.
If you still feel lost, talk to your colleagues, seniors, or your boss. Get them to help you organize your job. This proves very useful, as it enables you to finish your things in time – so no late working, no sleepless nights, and therefore no more lazy mornings!
- Forget Multitasking
Employers, I understand, multitasking is the need of the hour. But, is it as essential as your employee’s health?
Not really!
Often, employees stress themselves out not due to the workload, but on account of multitasking that requires them to manage multiple tasks at a time.
Multitasking is productive for companies but simultaneously draining for the employees. Besides, it may lead to a lot of errors, in turn, hampering the quality. So, it isn’t exactly a win-win situation.
Focusing on one thing at a time helps reduce mental stress, improves efficiency, along with quality.
- Take a Stroll
If you’ve got a habit of getting back to work immediately after your meals, get out of it quickly!
I’ll tell you why.
Resuming work immediately after lunch leads to lethargy. A lot of them start feeling sleepy after a few minutes.
As against this practice, taking a stroll around is a healthy practice. It helps digest food and also lets you speak your mind with your colleagues while walking around the premises.
A healthy gossip after lunch isn’t as bad. In fact, resetting your mood helps you make a stronger, a more enthusiastic, and a more energetic come back to the workplace!
- Allow some Music to Play
Playing some light and soothing music relieves stress to a great extent.
Let it play gently throughout the day. This will help you focus on something good and creative when you decide to take your eyes off your work.
I follow this myself unless I am on a client visit. I’ve seen a lot of people doing this as well. It really feels great when the gentle music creates harmony with your work.
- Keeps Conflicts Away
Getting into an unnecessary conflict is deemed to be the largest source of workplace stress.
Unfortunately, many have a habit of indulging in conflicts. Nominal conflicts, at times, are understood, as we are humans dealing with humans. But, regular disputes, resulting out of differences in opinion, deviations, etc. unnecessarily add to the stress.
So, stay away from such conflicts and emphasize resolving them rather than dragging them. Focus on the more important, meaningful and productive part of your work. That will help relieve a lot of stress and help you deliver value.
- Take a Day off from Work
We aren’t machines, but human beings, with practical limitations. Often, continuous work, lack of sufficient rest, and monotonous routines lead to severe repercussions in the long run.
It slowly reduces your thinking abilities, thereby reducing your productivity.
The solution here is to take a day off from work, staying away from those business emails, chats, phone calls, and spending an entire day with yourself and your family.
I too stay overwhelmed with work at all times, and I know that’s satisfying. But, staying busy isn’t the only objective of my life. I make it a point to take a day off from work, and spend some quality moments with myself and my family.
And it works! The next day, I make a more zealous entry in my cabin, and I am a more productive person!
Benefits of Stress Management at Workplace
Now, as an employer, you’ll enjoy several benefits of stress management at your workplace. Here are some of them.
- Improved employee efficiency, and quality.
- Increased employee engagement.
- Reduced employee attrition rate.
Besides, stress management helps in the following as well.
- Helps employees meet stringent deadlines
- Retains employee energy levels. So employees give more in less!
- Improves interpersonal relations
- Results in blissful completion of projects.
- Allows employees work to as a team, rather than pull each other to make individual contributions.
Eventually your customers get better service, and they too stay happy!
Conclusion
The Stress of Household Responsibilities
The inability to cater to domestic concerns on account of the excessive workload is another critical concern confronting employees these days.
As an employer, the domestic responsibilities of your employees may not concern you much. But, decreasing productivity and distraction at the workplace are concerns that should certainly bother you!
The solution to this is to hire a corporate concierge service. It will look after attending the household chores of your employees, and thus relieve them of the stress arising out of it.
So, if you are wondering in what all ways you can utilize concierge services, read this blog 50 ways to use a concierge.
And yes, I can help you with concierge services as well!
Hope, this blog helped you to some length. See you soon with the next one.