Stop Stress In The Workplace

Topping the worry list these days is money and the economy.  In 2008, the American Psychological Association (APA) reported that 47 percent of Americans experienced “increased stress”, while 30 percent said that they went through extreme stress.  With the economy going on a tailspin, it is apparent that loss, particularly of the financial kind, is part of today’s realities.  Governments are struggling with their economies, workers are losing their jobs, and employers are receding their businesses.  Credit from traditional sources, like banks, are becoming scarce and harder to obtain.  This is one of the main reasons why online lending services are thriving because more people are getting easy personal loans through these means.  Some of these online financial enterprises even offer individuals loan for bad credit that could serve as a lifeline to make ends meet.  All in all, financial uncertainties and losses bring added stress in the workplace.

Employees and employers alike are contending with a deep feeling of losing control in their work and businesses which, in turn, could drastically affect their futures.  For business owners and employers, when they first engaged in their businesses, they are armed with lots of confidence, but these past couple of years, this very trait that propelled them forward has diminished.  This psychological blockade would result to low self-esteem and poor performance in the workplace.  Clinical psychologists have a term for this state that cause stress: cognitive distortion.  Simply put, cognitive distortion can cause both workers and managers who are stressed to brush aside positive events and, instead focus on the negative.  People who are experiencing this see minor “problematic” events as major disasters.  Their fear of the unknown coupled by work and financial losses could aggravate their stress levels.  When the stress levels are up, there are physical reactions that go with it, such as headaches, upset stomachs, and even high blood pressure.

To counter cognitive distortion, people should stop and think straight.  At first, this simple step may seem harder than it looks but it is indeed simple and effective.  People who are experiencing cognitive distortion should talk to family and friends because they could offer a different and balanced perspective.  Experts also advise stressed people to write down their thoughts because writing slows down thoughts enough to clarify the present scenario.

Since the body is also affected by stress, workers, employers, and business owners are advised to have regular exercises—from a simple brisk walk around the block to a yoga classes during lunch time or after office hours.  These activities would surely relieve pent up stress.  It is also a great way to clear the head and think of more positive thoughts.  As experts put it, “A deviation always creates an opportunity.”  And so it is in managing stress in the workplace.  As the saying goes, “Diamonds are produced from coal that outlasted the pressures placed upon them.”