Dealing with Workplace Stressors

Not every job you have will end up being your favorite. However, at the same time, if your job is causing you excessive stress that you are bringing home, it can affect the people around you.

The best way to avoid bringing negative energy home is to practice a “calming ritual.” You could try driving around a few extra minutes, stopping to get a treat on the way home, or unwinding and taking a shower as soon as you get home. Every job can be stressful, and according to the American Psychological Association’s 2012 annual Stress in America survey, 65% of respondents listed their work as their top source of life stress, but only 37% said they were doing an excellent or very good job managing stress. It can be a very easy thing to simply neglect your mental health in favor of your work commitments. Additionally, employers may understand taking time off if you have a physical injury or medical condition, but don’t always accept the request for “mental health days.”

If the stress from the job itself has become unmanageable, it may be time to consider a change. This is especially true if you are in a “filler” job or are not where you expected to be career-wise at the point in your life. You may feel bad if you have been with your current company for a long time, but what some people do not think about is this: while you can care about what the company will do without you, you cannot sacrifice your mental health for it. The reality is, they will find someone to replace you, sooner or later. It sounds harsh, but it is the reality of how businesses work.

If the problems are coming from the people you work with rather than the company, try talking to a higher-up about the problem. If they do not take it seriously, or if there are “cliques” that rule your workplace, consider a new job as well, or figure out if it is something you can live with or not.

While you may not be so stressed that a job change is necessary, you may still have days that are more stressful than others. Unfortunately, this is not really something you can change. However, there are things you can do to change this. Make sure to get enough sleep at night, adopt a healthier diet to give you proper energy, and learn ways to better manage your stress. On your next day off, if it is possible, spend it on yourself and doing what you enjoy. You will go back to work feeling refreshed and relaxed.