Does your job stress you out?

This is a guest blog post by Carole Kanchier, PHD. Carole is a career and personal growth expert, as well as a registered psychologist and author. With recent news of layoffs across Canada, Carole wanted to write a post for those who are struggling with these changes or are worried about their future.

Occupational stress has been defined as a “global epidemic” by the United Nations’ International Labor Organization. As for business, The World Health Organization estimates that stress costs American businesses $300 billion dollars a year in absenteeism, low productivity, staff turnover, workers’ compensation, and other stress-related expenses.

More than one-third of American workers experience chronic work stress, according to a 2013 national survey by the American Psychological Association’s Center for Organizational Excellence. Low salaries, lack of opportunity for advancement, and heavy workloads top the list of contributing factors.

Of course, stress is a factor in every one’s life, particularly during major events such as marriage, divorce, or buying a home. But according to the Holmes-Rahe Life Stress Inventory, which rates the levels of stress caused by such events, many of the most stressful events are related to the workplace: mismatch between personal characteristics and job, business readjustments, firings, changes in financial status, altered responsibilities, switch to different line of work, trouble with superiors, variations in work hours, retirement, and vacations.

What does this quiz say about you?

Stress Quiz

Answer “yes” or “no:”

1.  I’m irritable
2. I’m usually tired
3. I have little to say to people
4. I have no time for leisure activities
5. I’m inefficient
6. I use of drugs to cope with job pressures
7. I feel powerless about my job; lack feelings of success or challenge
8. I forget appointments, deadlines or personal possessions
9. I have insomnia, headaches, colds
10. I hate going to work
11. I’m pessimistic

If you answered “yes” to 6 or more, you may be stressed.  Fortunately, stress is preventable and can be a catalyst for growth.

How to Manage Stress

• Seek challenges at work or in leisure activities.
• Engage in positive self-talk. Tell yourself, “I’m OK just as I am…” Realize you don’t always have to prove something.
• List job energizes and stressors. Focus on positive responsibilities; intersperse negative activities with short breaks and rewards. Avoid unnecessary meetings and delegate.
• Keep problems in perspective.  Failures can be learning experiences.
• Rejuvenate yourself using strategies like meditation and creative visualization. Sleep at least seven hours.
• Eat well, exercise regularly, develop support systems, and play. Try hosting a costume party or playing a game you enjoyed as a child.
• Listen to yourself. Attend to dreams, sorrows and beliefs. If you want time to watch your children grow, don’t play golf with colleagues.
• Consider a job shift or seek professional consultation.
• Refer to “Questers Dare to Change Your Job and Life” for additional suggestions: www.questersdaretochange.com

Tagged as: downtown, jobs, life, stress