Life often presents difficult and challenging situations. Stress is a person’s physical and psychological response to those trying times. Each individual reacts differently to various life incidents and therefore each person experiences stress in a unique way.
Pressure and Stress
Some people actually thrive under pressure and stress becomes a positive motivation. These individuals derive a sense of excitement by using a problem based coping style and confronting the issue directly. Others retreat from the stressful situation and try to cope with their emotions in an indirect way. They seek solutions through conversations with friends, prayer and meditation, or physical activity. However, if the stress persists, these individuals may become clinically depressed or turn to alcohol or drugs to ease their pain. This is negative stress and it is very damaging to your physical and emotional health.
Stress and Your Career
One place where stress can become overwhelming is at work. Whether you are experienced or new at your job, conflicts with your boss or coworkers can create problems for you. You need to be able to manage whatever occurs in order to be successful in your career. Most people have a career action plan to help them find a job but never consider designing a plan for keeping the job once they find it. Coping with daily work pressures is essential for advancing in your career so you need to be prepared for these negative situations when they occur. Negative stress leads to inappropriate relationships, lack of concentration and focus, and poor time management. Any of these behaviors can harm your career and if you begin to show signs of all three, you will most likely find yourself unemployed.
The Stress Effects
Prolonged stress leads to anxiety, frustration, panic, and a total lack of confidence. The constant battle to handle the stress creates a mental exhaustion, and the feeling of falling behind in all aspects of performance just leads to more stress. When you reach this point, it is easy to totally withdraw or develop an addiction. Of course, these behaviors are simply temporary fixes and leave you with not only the initial worry but also the problem of detoxing from drugs or alcohol. Of course, your addiction then makes your work performance even more problematic and the cycle of stress continues.
The Bottom Line
You can protect your health and your career by learning to handle stress in an appropriate manner. Some helpful tips for managing stress at work are:
- Have a plan – Set your priorities for the day and stay on task rather than be sidetracked by unimportant issues.
- Remain calm – When you begin to feel overwhelmed, take a deep breath and relax. Understand the aspects of the situation that you can control and respond to them.
- Be a leader – Recognise your part in difficult situations and change your behavior if necessary to benefit the team. Confront co-workers appropriately to help them realise their negative behavior and get them back on track.
- Take care of yourself – Eat well and get enough sleep. It is important to begin the day with the energy you will need to be successful.
Have you managed to deal particularly well with a stressful situation? Please share any advice you may have in the comments below, it may help others.
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