How to handle stress

Stress is increasingly blighting today’s working environment. Tight deadlines, tight margins on jobs and the combination of demanding workloads and a lack of control over events are all raising stress levels in building services. Yet there is a kind of stress that is constructive.

Positive stress can be beneficial. It gives you the adrenaline that can lead to creativity, excitement and motivation. Think of a time when you were working towards a tight deadline. It was probably positive stress that gave you the added buzz to get the job done on time and with notable results. In fact studies indicate that positive stressful stimuli and emotions actually enhance physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health.

But stress beyond a certain level turns negative and leads to headaches, tension and, in the worst cases, depression and heart disease.

The modern office

Key causes of negative stress are a deluge of emails and mobile phone calls, and having constantly to be available. While you may not always be able to limit your workload, the good news is that this type of stress can be remedied by changing your behaviour.

Top tips for dealing with negative stress are:

- Start with the basics. Eat better, sleep more, see loved ones and make more time for yourself. A work-life balance is imperative.

- Reward yourself for achievements, both personal and professional. Do this for small things rather than letting the pressure mount until a mammoth task has been completed.

- Change your routine. Take a new route to work or buy lunch in a new store. Small things can change your outlook on the day.

- Look at your time management skills. When you see your workload getting out of control, stop and do something about it.

- Delegate where you can. Although it may require more time initially, it will help to ease your workload in the long term.

- Ask for help from your boss or your HR department. Don’t wait until the stress is getting too much and you start to make mistakes.

The wrong fit

Another key cause of stress in the workplace is staying in a job that you hate. There are many reasons for doing this, but if the problems with your job can’t be resolved by speaking to your manager, it may be time to find a job that better matches your skills, abilities and interests.

Workplace bullying

Bullying in the workplace can make stress rocket. It puts great strain on both the individual and the company. Make sure the bully knows that what they are doing is wrong and ask them to stop. They may not even realise that they are upsetting you and a polite confrontation may resolve the issue. If this doesn’t happen, your next step should be to discuss the situation with your manager. A responsible manager should take the matter seriously.

It is normal to want to succeed and natural to think that you have to work hard to do so. But be sensible about your workload and goals. Realise that if you spoil your health, it will only take you longer to get there.

For further advice: The Health & Safety Executive produces leaflet Working together to reduce stress at work, available at www.hse.gov.uk/stress/standards.

Also, visit www.samaritans.org.uk/talk/sources/sources_support.shtm or call 08457 909090.

Related Websites

www.hse.gov.uk/stress/standards

www.samaritans.org.uk/talk/sources/sources_support.shtm