Every April is Stress Awareness Month. It is a time to learn more about the sources and solutions for stress. Reduce your stress at work and take care of your mental health with these three tips.
Mental health at work is an ongoing issue. Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace 2023 Report showed that the U.S and Canada region and East Asia had the highest stress levels in the world at 52%, followed by Australia and New Zealand at 47%.
One way to create a healthy workplace is to make sure employees are taking care of their mental health by minimizing any pressures and stress that the workplace may bring.
1. Recognize Your Stress
The World Health Organization points out several factors that could be contributing to workplace stress. They can affect your mental and physical well-being. You need to know what triggers your stress or burnout at work so you can deal with it and overcome it.
- Under-use of skills or being under-skilled for work
- Excessive workloads or work pace, understaffing
- Long, unsocial, or inflexible hoursc
- Lack of control over job design or workload
- Unsafe or poor physical working conditions
- Organizational culture that enables negative behaviors
- Limited support from colleagues or authoritarian supervision
- Violence, harassment, or bullying
- Discrimination and exclusion
- Unclear job role
- Under- or over-promotion
- Job insecurity, inadequate pay, or poor investment in career development
- Conflicting home/work demands
2. Seek Support
If stress is overwhelming you, talk to a manager, HR, or a reliable coworker. Use the employee resources that are available to you. Many companies offer wellness programs like counseling, meditation, fitness centers, and memberships that can help you.
3. Take a Break from Work
Maybe your stress comes from not having enough balance between your work and personal life. Don’t hesitate to take some time off from work. Use your vacation or PTO days. You can spend some of your time off relaxing and rethinking, allowing you to come back to work renewed and less stressed.
Your health is vital for being a productive and engaged employee, so try your best to manage stress and achieve a healthy work-life balance.
Contact a Mental Health Professional
If the stress is getting to be too much, and you notice it starting to affect your work, consider scheduling a visit with a mental health professional. Your healthcare provider should be able to connect you with someone who can help work through your stress and recommend treatment. Or use the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s national helpline by calling (800) 662-HELP (4357).
Disclaimer: These general guidelines do not constitute medical advice. Please consult with a physician to determine the best health practices for your needs.
What are some other ways to lower work-related stress? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!
Express Employment International supports the Express Employment Professionals franchise and affiliated brands, including Specialized Recruiting Group and Express Healthcare Staffing. The Express franchise brand is an industry-leading, international staffing company with franchise locations in the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
