Managing work-related stress in the Age of Productivity
The 21st century brought innovation and technology to nations, but the package also included stress and anxiety disorders. Most people are stressed about work, financial struggles, and the generational split between Gen Z and baby boomers. According to Statista, 79% of people in the UK experience work-related stress. However, only 39% of companies mitigate risks and ensure their employees work in a safe environment.
Common causes of work-related stress include increased workload, tight deadlines and harassment or discrimination. These occurrences can lead to physical, psychological and behavioural symptoms that affect productivity and trigger different stressors.
Most of the time, symptoms are unseen or challenging to spot, so employees get proper help only when further complications arise. Anxiety, depression and insomnia are frequent problems people experience after getting a job, and the decrease of this trend is nowhere in sight, as the age of productivity dictates us to do more and hustle continuously to get more prosperous, more powerful and better than others around us.
But what can we do to combat work-related stress?
What is the age of productivity, and how does it affect mental health?
Organizations are obsessed with productivity and company growth. The problem is they’re both related to the efficiency of workers only and less focused on how the company manages tasks and opportunities for the whole business. The age of productivity demands employees to be preoccupied with the company’s future and leave their personal preferences aside for economic development. Increasing staff productivity is a top priority in any company, but what about employee wellness?
Businesses choose to invest in the well-being of their workers after the pandemic when burnout increased among most teams. Some companies developed flexible working schedules, while others provided mental health support and wellness programs.
But how can employees deal with stress on the spot? There are multiple tips on how a healthy lifestyle and certain diets and hobbies can decrease sensitivity to stress, but most workers want to feel less distressed when performing a task. Sometimes, one can consume legal cannabis medical supplements from the white widow’s strain used to treat anxiety, depression and fatigue. Taking one gummy at work can have an energizing effect and uplift the mood.
How can employees mitigate stress to avoid triggering anxiety?
Lowering stress at work is almost impossible, but helping your body react to it can help you minimize the chances of avoiding anxiety symptoms if you’ve got muscle tension. If you have trouble sleeping and are often easily irritable by your surroundings, it’s time to change your lifestyle.
Some fundamental but paramount tips for handling stress include limiting caffeine at work. Although it can give your energy, caffeine also contributes to feeling agitated. Instead, you can have a cup of matcha, which is healthier and has the same effects without the distress factor. If it doesn’t work, have a vape with cannabis from blueberry strains that will help you unwind quickly.
Outside the office, make sure you make an effort to get enough sleep at night, meaning limiting your screen time and prioritizing a stable sleep schedule. Some exercising should help your body stabilize and get tired naturally at a particular hour at night, so find your preferred sport and get moving.
If you’ve got too much drama at work, choose a technique to help you let it all out. Meditating, journaling or calling someone to talk to about what’s bothering you will definitely help you regain your senses. At the same time, you’ll be able to keep a record of your behaviour patterns and act accordingly next time if you’re in a position to take responsibility.
I don’t experience common symptoms. Am I stressed or just overreacting?
Stress can manifest in various ways. Things can get complicated, from basic irritability to insomnia and dizziness, and triggers can come from anything you’ve experienced. For example, if you notice even a slight change in your appetite, that can be counted as a symptom of stress.
Sometimes, stress slowly leads to anxiety and/or depression, which is also difficult to point out. If you no longer have the energy for the things you usually enjoy or eliminate them from your daily routine, it would be best to consider taking a break and re-considerate your priorities.
One less talked about symptom of stress is decreased strength of your immune system, which usually leads to getting sick easier and not being able to get well faster than before. This is why you might need a change in lifestyle because being healthier makes your body less prone to getting weak.
Avoid doing these things to handle work-related stress better
If you push yourself too hard, getting back on track will be more difficult after strenuous work. One of the people’s biggest mistakes when handling stress is suffering in silence and having an internal battle that will only worsen things. You need to talk to someone and get an objective view of the situation.
Another mistake is a destructive coping mechanism, from over-drinking, smoking too many cigarettes or overeating. Know that these coping mechanisms only solve the problem now and are not long-term solutions. Plus, they’ll damage your health.
Remember to tackle the stressors and not let the reason you’re overwhelmed get out of hand for too long. You might do this due to low self-esteem or because you’re a newbie at the company, but handling things early will solve the problem easier.
But most of all, don’t pretend it’s not happening. If you’re constantly under stress due to other employees, increased workload or poor work conditions, speak up and try to change, or at least bring awareness to the problem, because you might not be the only one distressed. If you pretend everything’s alright, you’re also at risk of getting involved in situations that hurt you in the past and repeating the cycle.
Bottom line
Managing stress at work in the age of productivity and perfectionism is one of the most challenging situations to tackle. Analyzing the circumstances can also be affected by bias, which is why you need support from others and find proper coping mechanisms that won’t affect your health in the long term.
