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A Working Girls Review - Coping with
Stress in the Workplace
By Anna Rossiter
Stress refers to a state of psychological tension caused by
pressures from stimuli in the environment in which we live. These stressors
can be anything from bad weather to having a paper due on Friday and it’s
Thursday and you haven’t started it yet!
The truth is that most of us experience stress and that most of us can make
correct attributions to the cause of this stress; because for most of us, we
are the cause of our own individual stress. I’m talking to the people who
plan an outdoor picnic in the wettest month, and the girl who buys the new
Jimmy Choo’s with this months rent money. Whoever you are and what ever it
is that you do to cause your own stress, it might interest you to know that
a certain level of stress is good for you. Most self-made stress is a bid to
push oneself; to look a challenge in the eye (metaphorically, of course) and
say, “I prevailed.” But, and there is always a but, you may also like to
know that too much stress is bad for you, and yes, I realize that I won’t be
getting a Nobel prize for this observation. Whilst this fact may be common
knowledge, what is not so commonly known is how to best cope with stress.
We cannot avoid it altogether, nor can we hide from it, but we can better
equip ourselves for when it hits us with force. There are a number of coping
strategies out there and God only knows how many self help “stress buster”
books, but here are a few selected favourites.
Change Your Perception - This isn’t the simplest thing in the world, and
everyone hates an optimist but it’s not impossible. Certain stressors can
actually be made positive; it just depends on how you are willing to look at
a situation; for example, the ending of relationship. Yes, you could cry
uncontrollably, and, yes, you could sit at home with the curtains drawn
eating chocolate while watching “Ghost”. Or, you could see this as a new
lease of life, no longer restrained by the shackles of coupledom, but back
are the days of girly nights in and only thinking about number one...You!
Job termination? “You’re fired!”. Upon hearing these words many easily slip
into a well of anxiety and despair. Stress begins to build, along with
worries of how you’ll afford next months trends, will you have to stay in
this weekend and finally, how will you pay the bills. STOP! This is ok; in
fact, this is great! Now you can pursue the career you always wanted. See
this not as a set back, but as a step forward. Now you’re free, you can
start fresh and follow your dreams whatever they may be. Gone will be the
days of the dreaded Monday morning feeling. Instead you will reach Friday
and hope the weekend flies by. What I’m saying is take a positive approach.
Remember, when life gives you lemons… make a lemon puff (or something
delicious out of it).
What are the causes of stress and are they avoidable? Start by asking
yourself what are the main causes of the stress in your life and workplace.
If there are certain people that you have frequent disagreements or
arguments with, try to limit your contact with these individuals or steer
clear of the topics that cause the stress. Avoid situations and people,
friends or not, who make you feel less than you are. Feelings of inadequacy
and degradation of any kind can lead to stress. If people are making you
feel this way then tell them so. If they continue to do it then they may be
doing it for their own amusement and they are therefore not worth your time.
Talk about it. And I cannot “stress” this enough. Sometimes just saying
things out loud is a great help. Now I’m not suggesting that you sit on your
own and talk to yourself about your trouble. Not only will this be of little
help, but you risk being institutionalized. I mean talk to a sympathetic
ear, a friend or colleague, whomever…they weren’t kidding when they said a
problem shared is a problem halved. Talking about your problems can also
shed some much needed clarity on a situation: “You are not the only one who
feels this way”. Most of us, when we’re feeling stressed and anxious,
genuinely believe that everyone else is feeling perfectly fine and that we
are the minority…WRONG! We all know that feeling, when we’re about to give a
presentation in a lecture or at work; the same feeling we get just before an
interview. You have butterflies in your stomach, your palms are sweating and
you want to walk out. I guarantee that the person who went in before you and
the person going in after you are all experiencing the same thing. Stress is
an issue of the majority.
Failing any of the above, exercise is a great way of releasing stress plus
it also has great physical benefits. When exercising, you not only distract
yourself from your stressors but your body will begin to release endorphins
which make you feel happier. Yoga is a great form of exercise and has been
around for 1000’s of years. Yoga is a perfect outlet for stress and
frustration as it involves a number of stress management strategies such as
breathing, movement and meditation. Muscle relaxation and tension reduction
are key to reducing the physical effects of stress. Try working from the top
of your body, tensing the muscles for a short period of ten seconds and then
relaxing them. Do this all the way down. The great thing is that this can be
done anywhere, whether you are sitting at your desk or walking the dog. The
only tool you need is your body.
Stress can interfere with and impair a normal healthy lifestyle. If you feel
that you are suffering, and despite best efforts are losing control, seek
help. There is no shortage of support and help out there, but it won’t find
you! Remember to have fun with it, it’s everywhere and you only live once!
Anna attended University in London, England graduating with a degree in
Psychology. She writes lifestyle & fashion articles for magazines, aimed to
inspire & inform. Contact Anna at
annarossiter@aol.com
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