Managing stress at work

Work, whatever it is, is associated with a certain level of stress, and it is normal. However, excessive work stress can interfere with your productivity and negatively impact your physical and emotional health. Your ability to handle this stress can make a difference.

You can not control everything at your workplace. This does not mean that you can not do anything, even if you are in a difficult situation. Finding ways to manage stress at work does not mean that you will have to change your life or rethink your ambitions radically. It's about focusing on what you're always under control: you. Manage work stress in a world full of uncertainties is a unique capability. Some people in their professions do this managing stress without many challenges.

Your emotions are contagious, and stress has a significant impact on your interactions with your employees. Proper management of your stress will positively affect the people around you, who in turn will stress you less.

The signs and symptoms of excessive stress at work are:

•     Feeling anxious, irritable or depressed
•     productivity loss
•     apathy, loss of interest in the work
•     sleep problems
•     disorders of concentration
•     muscle tension, headaches
•     digestion problems
•     social withdrawal

We can learn how to manage stress at work.

We can put in place different strategies than to reduce your stress in a general way and more particularly that resulting from your work.

Some are listed below:

• Take control of improving your physical and emotional health
• Avoid the pitfalls of bad habits and negative attitudes that add to the stress of your work
• Learn communication skills to facilitate and improve your relationships with your management and colleagues
• Exercise, try to smile and laugh and get social support if needed.

Recognize and use body language effectively. In many situations, what is communicated is less or more important than the way it is said.  The nonverbal signals that you send, such as tone of voice, eye contact, gestures, facial expression, posture, clothing, and interpersonal space. Your non-verbal messages can induce interest, trust, desire for connection or can also create confusion, mistrust, stress. Have control on non-verbal signals too.

Resolve conflicts positively. If the situation can not be resolved, end the discussion positively, even if you still disagree. Develop the ability to face challenges with humour. There is no better cure for stress than warm, honest laughter, and there is nothing more effective in reducing meeting stress than laughing with your colleagues. But if laughter is at someone else's expense, you will end up with more tension in the long run. Keep smiling!