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Stress at Work

In: Philosophy and Psychology

Submitted By prostreet513
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Stress at Work Have you ever had a job or position that left you feeling pressure, anxiety, discontent, or completely disconnected? You are not alone; nearly everyone who is employed has experienced those feelings at one time or another in their life. The world, in which we live, is fast paced and ever changing. Companies have grown increasingly demanding and as a result the workload has increased while the workforce has not. As less people are used in the work force the workload is ever increasing. The stress at work can eventually spill over into all aspects of that person’s life thus causing more damage and further issues. The key is to recognize the stress and the impact it has and use the best way to manage stress while still being able to adapt to a changing working environment.
Recognizing the Stress In order to solve any issue, we must first acknowledge the problem and then understand what is causing us to have that problem. Stress can creep up on anyone; it can remain un-detected for quite some time. Our body is a wonderfully constructed marvel of engineering brilliance. More often than not, when something goes wrong, there are warning signs exhibited. While it is very common to have busy days at work, there is a difference between being busy and being stressed. The various signs of stress may include frequent headaches, stomachaches, elevated blood pressure, lack of sleep, depression, and many other symptoms. There are a multitude of things that can contribute to someone’s overall state of health. What many people fail to realize, the more frequent these symptoms become, and the more detrimental they can be physically and emotionally. I have even shrugged off these symptoms myself, just attributing it to normal life as a worker. Stress is a very serious issue; it can affect you physically and mentally. This type of stress will not stay at work, it will follow you home.
Preparing for Stress
There is no denying that stress is and always will be a part of life. There are many ways to relieve stress and in some cases, avoid it all together. The better shape you are in mentally and physically, the easier it will be to overcome stress at work. Time and time again physicians as well as dieticians have expressed the importance of a healthy diet. If you eat food that is unhealthy and high in fat, you are not going to feel all that well afterwards. Fruits and vegetables are natural resources that were designed to be consumed so that our bodies could function properly and efficiently. Have you ever laid around all day? It leaves you feeling tired and drained. That is why those who exercise daily have much more energy than those who don’t. The advantage of physical activity and exercise is that it’s good for the mind as well as the body. Exercise releases that negative energy leaving you refreshed and focused. There are many other ways that one can learn to cope with the amounts of stress as work and still maintain a healthy lifestyle at work as well as at home.
Taking Stress in Stride
Don’t carry around the burden of stress, what is meant to be will be. Like water rolls off a duck’s feathers, let stress do the same. It’s just work, it’s what you do to earn a living. We were given one life on this earth and there is no reason why it should be consumed by stress. No matter how bad one may think things are someone always has bigger issues. When you change your mind, you will change many things about your life. A business is there to make money, they expect to get the most they can for that money, don’t take it so personally. Many times in life I have found that it’s not the issues we face, but the attitude at which we face them that determines our success and happiness as a person.
Stress can be an ugly thing if you let it consume you. It doesn’t have to be that way as long as you choose to do what it takes to beat it. We spend more time at work than virtually anywhere else during our lifetime. The better mentality one has, the better the working experience will be. If you feel that your job is destroying your health and well-being, do what it takes to change that. In some cases it may even require changing jobs, that’s ok too. In my opinion nothing is worth sacrificing your happiness over. No matter how much money you make at your job, if you’re not happy you will never be successful. God has given us the precious gift of life as well as loved ones to share that life with. Work and stress from work is not worth sacrificing your life and well-being over. What will it take for me to be happy? Once you answer that everything else will fall into place.

References
Solutions, C., McDougall, T. (February 2014). More stressed than ever. Benefits & Pensions Monitor, 24 (1), 12.
Choi, B.K. Dobson, M., Landsbergis, O., Sangbaek, M., Schnall, P. (March 1, 2014). Job strain and work related stress. American Journal of Public Health, 104 (3), 3-3.
Goundreau, J. (March 20, 2013). 12 Ways to eliminate stress at work. Forbes Online, http://www.forbes.com/sites/jennagoudreau/2013/03/20/12-ways-to-eliminate-stress-at-work/
House, J. (March 1981). Work stress and social support (Book 4). Addison-Wesley Series on Occupational stress.
Owens, D. (March 1, 2014). Stressed out. HR Magazine, 59 (3), 44-45.

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