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 Introduction
We all get stressed at some time in our working life, some more than others. The way we deal with stress is the main difference that separates us, and the degree to which we are affected is also a major variable. Not only can stress affect your ability to work, consequently affecting your business, but more importantly - your health.
Believe it or not stress is not always a bad thing, and as you will see, having stress in our lives can actually benefit us in some way or another. Alternatively, you may be immediately wondering how you can eliminate stress completely - maybe that is why you are here.
Sadly, stress is only natural and you cannot eliminate it altogether. Instead, you have to learn how to control or 'manage' stress to avoid the negative symptoms that we are threatened by.
Stress is 'taken' by the individual and not 'given' by the pressure of work. In other words, it is not about being faced with pressure, but more how we react to pressure. This is why some people welcome stress, as it acts as a motive to get things done.
It's a Fact
Each year, businesses lose an average £370 million due to stress related illnesses at work. This is caused by the average 6 million people being affected each year, not just by the absenteeism through illness, but also through the payouts of compensation. Over the last few years, stress has become the number one priority for Health & Safety representatives that are now substantially trying to reduce the problem.
Evidence shows that the people most affected by stress, unsurprisingly, include managers. It has also been concluded that people between the ages 35 -45 are more likely to suffer. Further research suggests that tight deadlines, excessive workload, poor performance and customer complaints are the main reasons leading to stress.
Common Symptoms
I think we all know what these are, but there are a few that people are unaware of. Recognizing symptoms early can save yourself from serious illness by fighting the problem sooner rather than later. Stress itself is not an illness - it just provokes illness by inflicting physical and psychological problems. When you suffer from stress, common physical symptoms include headaches, migraines, nausea, twitching, habits (e.g. nail biting), irregular sleeping patterns and sweating. Continued suffering can lead to serious conditions such as heart disease and high blood pressure. Psychological problems can include mood swings, reduced self-esteem, inability to perform (e.g. decision making), lack of concentration, irritable, anger and depression. Such symptoms can often be more long-term than physical symptoms. Believe it or not, stress is not all bad and there has been a break through in research telling us that stress is actually GOOD for us from a medical point of view. Although we will advise on how to deal with stress, you may find it interesting to learn how stress can benefit you. This will be covered later in the article - Stress Can be Good!
Article Index
1. Managing Stress at Work |
