Managing Stress In Your Career

In an excellent article that appeared in the 11/07 SHRM online newsletter, HR News, the growing modern day stress of balancing challenges of money, work, and family was discussed. For many today the balance of work, family and enduring the economic challenges of our times is causing great stress that is not always properly managed by many, that can lead to further health, productivity, financial, and family challenges.

It is important for all young professionals to enter the workforce today with a strategy to manage the stress caused by their workloads and other important personal and financial responsibilities in their lives. Stress is part of the course in life's journey, but how you manage it will mean the difference between a very healthy and successful life and career, and a career that seems like a consistent roller coaster ride of up and down health, emotional stability, professional and financial challenges.

A few stress busting strategies to consider:

Accept that stress is a part of life, it is not that you are somehow failing or incompetent, stress is faced by all, but managed better by some than others.

Share your concerns with a friend, mentor, or trusted colleague. Sometimes simply discussing the challenge with others who are committed to you as friend or professional will help take the edge off of the issue, and open up a dialogue that can assist you in sorting through matters that are weighing you down.

Try engaging in physical activity such as daily walking and running, or other exercise that will will assist in the long run in developing your physical endurance, but also in providing an excellent short term solution in breaking up your day, and providing an opportunity to clear your mind.

Schedule a good laugh with friends, it can assist you in changing your mindset, particularly if you have been focusing for long periods of time on challenging or negative situations.

If you are a praying person, take time to pray and mediate on your core spiritual beliefs and God.

Don't be embarrassed to get help, such as seeing a counselor, meeting with a therapist, or your local pastor or a religious counselor. These individuals can assist in hearing your concerns and offering excellent advice on moving forward.

Take a look at the below article for more discussion on the relationship between stress and the workplace.

KRW

Money and Work Spell S-T-R-E-S-S

By Kathy Gurchiek, an associate editor for HR News.

If you’ve squeezed the life out of that squishy stress ball on your desk, you’re probably not alone.

Nearly half of U.S. workers say their stress level has increased over the past five years, according to an American Psychological Association (APA) survey.
It’s contributing to lost productivity at work, health problems and poor relationships, the survey says. Money and work are still the leading causes of stress for three-fourths of Americans, up from 59 percent in 2006, but the housing crisis is a new trigger. Concerns over rent and mortgages were causes of stress for 51 percent of Americans in 2007, the APA found.

And about one-third of those surveyed are stressing out over their difficulty in managing work and family responsibilities. The fact that their jobs interfere with family or personal time is a significant cause of stress for 35 percent of workers, the APA found in the English and Spanish online survey conducted Aug. 30 to Sept. 11, 2007, with more than 1,800 workers.

A smaller number—8 percent—linked stress to divorce or separation, and 25 percent said stress created alienation between them and a friend or family member. “Stress in America continues to escalate and is affecting every aspect of people’s lives—from work to personal relationships to sleep patterns and eating habits, as well as their health,” said psychologist Russ Newman in a press release. “We know that stress is a fact of life and some stress can have a positive impact; however, the high stress levels that many Americans report experiencing can have long-term health consequences, ranging from fatigue to obesity and heart disease,” said Newman, the APA’s executive director for professional practice.

Scientists have a difficult time defining stress, but the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) says job stress is the harmful physical and emotional responses that come about when the job requirements don’t match the worker’s capabilities, resources or needs.
It should not, NIOSH says on its web site, be confused with “challenge,” which it calls “an important ingredient for healthy and productive work.” Stress is believed to be linked to workplace injury and psychological issues such as depression and burnout, and it is thought to be linked to cardiovascular disease and an increased risk in developing disorders to the back and upper-extremity musculoskeletal disorders, NIOSH says, citing the Encyclopedia of Occupational Safety and Health. It costs U.S. businesses more than $300 billion annually, attributable to absenteeism; turnover; diminished productivity; medical, legal and insurance expenses; and workers’ compensation payments, the American Institute of Stress says on its web site.

And it’s a top reason employees leave, according to a WorldatWork survey released in October 2007 that found only 50 percent of employers offer stress management programs. “Companies need to seriously rethink their approach to workplace stress,” said Kathie Lingle, director of the Alliance for Work-Life Progress. The alliance is an affiliate of WorldatWork. “It’s not just about treating the symptoms of stress with massages and yoga classes,” she said in a press release, “but actually delving into the company’s work processes and culture to figure out potential causes of pressure, such as lack of supervisor and co-worker support, inadequate feedback, workload or scheduling issues.”