Various studies have determined that work related stress in the United Kingdom is at an all-time high. In 2019, it was confirmed that 828,000 workers were suffering from work related stress.
As work related stress has soared in recent years, almost 39 million working days have been lost each year.
To help you understand how to combat work related stress, we have delved into how work related stress arises, the symptoms that come hand in hand with work related stress and what can be done to combat work related stress here.
How Does Work Related Stress Arise?
Although work related stress is somewhat familiar and has been experienced for many years, the number of people suffering from mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of work related stress is a more recent occurrence.
From increased employer expectations to prolonged working hours, various factors cause work related stress to arise.
A study conducted by Perkbox has revealed that the most common causes of work related stress include the following;
- Lack of organisation and communication within the workplace
- Other people’s workplace performance
- Workplace office politics
- Prolonged working hours
- Increased expectations from employers
- Financial stress related to wages
Job insecurity, conflict and burnout have also been determined to heighten work related stress.
What Are The Symptoms of Work Related Stress?
As work related stress impairs an individual’s overall health, various symptoms will arise, leaving almost half a million people in the United Kingdom that experience work-related stress feeling physically and psychologically unwell.
Sadly, those that are left feeling unwell due to the stress they encounter within the workplace are often subject to many physical, psychological and behavioural symptoms. Below, we have outlined just a number of the symptoms of work related stress.
- Feeling increasingly overwhelmed
- Feeling as though you are unable to cope with your workload
- Difficulty focusing on the tasks that need to be completed
- Reduced self-esteem and confidence in your ability
- Struggling with imposter syndrome
- Lack of motivation in your role
- Taking a more significant number of sick days from work
- Heightened levels of anxiety and depression
- Feeling sick, suffering from headaches and experiencing digestive problems
- Increased bouts of insomnia and paranoia
- High blood pressure
- Withdrawal from social situations and the workplace
- Feeling extremely upset and irritable in the workplace
- Extreme burnout
How To Combat Work Related Stress
If you have noticed any of the above symptoms in yourself and have come to experience work related stress, there are various things that you can do to combat work related stress and mitigate the overall impact stress has on your life.
To help you understand how to combat work related stress, we have provided several solutions for you to take advantage of.
- Create A Daily Routine
Although you may not believe that creating a daily routine will help you combat work related stress, daily routines are proven to improve stress levels and, in turn, mental health.
Creating a daily will additionally help you switch off from your work related duties as you return home. In turn, you will find that you can relax, decompose and reduce the amount of work related stress you experience.
- Talk To Your Employer
As and when you begin to experience work related stress, you must talk to your employer. With a duty of care for employees, your employer will likely want to help you combat work related stress to make your work experience more pragmatic.
Approaching your employer may seem daunting; however, discussing your worries and stress with them will alleviate the pessimistic thoughts and feelings you experience. They will also help you devise solutions to ensure that you can develop an optimistic outlook surrounding your time at work.
- Steer Clear of Conflict In The Workplace
Although conflict in the workplace can be somewhat difficult to avoid, ensuring that you steer clear of any dispute and remove yourself from situations where conflict is likely to arise will help you combat work related stress.
In addition to helping you combat work related stress, you will find that avoiding conflict will strengthen your relationships with your colleagues. You may also begin to feel more positive about your role in the workplace.
- Participate In Regular Exercise
Although you may not feel up to it, participating in regular exercise helps combat work related stress and stress in general.
During your working day, participating in exercise could simply consist of going for a walk during your lunch break. Rather than sitting at your desk or in the canteen where work related stress and conflict may surround you, you will have the ability to take some time to reflect on your day so far and clear your mind as you get some much needed fresh air.
- Keep A Journal
As and when you experience work related stress, keeping a journal will help you to express the thoughts and feelings you encounter.
In doing so, you will find that the pressure you feel internally will alleviate. You will also have the opportunity to reflect on the factors that leave you feeling stressed and make any necessary changes to ensure that you can minimise the ramifications of work related stress in the future.
- Take Advantage of Professional Support
If you are struggling with chronic stress and have found that regardless of the solutions you implement, your workplace stress does not alleviate, seeking professional support may well be in your best interest.
Although you may not be aware, rehabs such as the ones that we can refer you to provide rehabilitation for stress and other mental health disorders. Through the employment of psychological and well-being therapies, our rehabs can assist you in addressing and combatting work related stress.
Contact Action Rehab Today
If you would like to find out more about the support available to you via our residential rehab centres or seek our guidance, please do not hesitate to contact us today.
Sources
https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causdis/stress.pdf
https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/dayslost.htm
https://www.perkbox.com/uk/resources/library/2020-workplace-stress-survey
Posted on Friday, February 5th, 2021 at 9:43 am in Latest News.
Call Us
Contact Us