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Stress. What stress? Sometimes we can get so stressed out that we don’t even notice it ourselves. It becomes part of the daily grind, and who has time for it anyway… you’ve got things to do, right? This may be true but if you do not manage your stress properly it will begin to manage you. Major sources of stress are related to work activities. Issues with competency, uncertainty, and communication can cause us to stress out daily at work and spill over into the home. Control is a factor that is greatly attributed to job stress. People with many responsibilities without a lot of control over decisions are the most at risk for stress-related illnesses like heart failure. Communication problems thicken the pot and cause even more tension. Feeling a little unappreciated lately. If you do not feel supported by coworkers or management it may make resolving issues more difficult, causing even more stress. You may be new and uncertain of your responsibilities or there are too many recurring deadlines. Alright, more and more stress on the job.
Reducing some of this stress will benefit you and your employer. Meeting regularly with your manager or supervisor to discuss the problem at least once a year to discuss performance and other issues that affect you on the job may help. Good time management skills and leaving your job at the office and don’t give up any of your free time to catch up on work if you don’t have to. Ahhh… a little relief. Know when to quit. If you are truly unhappy with your job to think about changing careers and spend time researching other possibilities. Do the researches before you quit and find a less stressful job. Ahhhhhhhh… even more relief. Engage in much more physical activity to reduce stress and get fit so you are at least more equipped to handle stressors. Ahhhhhhhhh… it is relaxing even more. And last but not least take a vacation if needed and recharge by doing something that you really enjoy. Vacation! Ultimate relaxation achieved.
All might not play out exactly like the description just mentioned. The point here is to find ways to relax. Ultimately there is no one to take better care of you than you. If you find that you are experiencing more tension than you can handle take immediate action to resolve whatever it is that is causing you so much stress and work on eliminating or decreasing them. So instead of letting the root of the problem continue unabated while you frantically try to get rid of the stress it creates, you should get to the root and eliminate whatever it is that is making you stressed. Even if it means changing your lifestyle dramatically, or quitting your job and living cheaply for a few months, it is worth it in the end since stress can be such a harmful thing. You can try talking to your employer to see if it would be possible to have a more relaxed workday. Tell him or her about your health issues that are resulting from stress.
Unless you are one of those individuals who thrive in a high-pressure environment and positive results are evident in your health and performance there may be a big need for change. Stress can be the single cause of depression, high blood pressure, heart palpitations, and reek havoc on your family or behavior. Don’t allow the advances in technology to separate you from your family and friends. Disconnect from cell phones and the internet and separate your time from the employers’ time. Begin to enjoy the time you spend alone or with family and friends, enjoy that long book, take that weekend getaway that you’ve been putting off for months. If you don’t do any of these things, find a way to relax somehow, so that the effects of job-related stress don’t lead you straight to burnout and drain you out of your precious life.