By: Dr. Natasha Dua, Sr. Sub Editor-ICN
‘Work’ and ‘Stress’ go hand in hand, but there comes a time when you should STOP. Stress is ‘Positive’ till the time it motivates you to work, whereas, once it begins to hamper your performance, it is termed as ‘Negative’. Negative Stress may either be Acute, Episodic Acute or Chronic in nature.
The sad part of the story is that we have defined a certain number of Stressors and the ones beyond them are not given enough consideration. These Stressors are fathomed as ‘Stressors’ when they have impacted the physiological and mental health, behavior and emotions by a great extent and there occur proportionate differences in performance, not only at the workplace but also at home, social gatherings etc.
As we consider ‘Work Pressure’ as one of the most eminent factors of Stress, I would like you to know that in the year 2019, 94% workers reported the experience of Stress at their respected workplaces and this 94% included factors other than ‘Work Pressure’ as well, i.e. Harassment, Disrupted Relations with the Employer, Disrupted relations with Colleagues/Team Members, Interrupted Growth, Disorganization, Conflicts, Workplace Politics etc.
Nowadays, many organizations tend to offer complementary services to keep the employees motivated i.e. 24×7 Free Food Services, Free Gymnasium, Discount Coupons, Free Pick-up and Drop, etc, however, do you really think that these perks can act as a cover for all the Stressors? How could an employee escape the ‘Psychological Impact’ that is created by these Stressors and replace it with Happiness, Bliss and Positivity just by getting some complimentary services?
Some humans tend to underestimate the power of Stress; however, it is capable of impacting the overall well-being of individuals – Psychologically, Mentally, Emotionally and Physiologically. It can lead to issues like High Blood Pressure, Heart Diseases, Diabetes, Obesity, Gastrointestinal Issues, Headache, Hormonal Problems (Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal System), Skin-Related Problems, Depression, Anxiety, Fear, Apprehensions, etc.
According a report published in 2009, an online edition of the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, a study concluded that men who consistently failed to deal with work-related stress issues were twice as likely to have a Myocardial Infarction or die of Cardiovascular Disease than those who managed stress in a constructive way.
The best ways to manage stress is to track and identify your stressors. Relaxation Techniques are one of the best ways to overcome Stress as they help in Muscle Relaxation and Reduction of Anxiety. Problem Solving, an active Coping Technique, that helps to define the pathway to overcome the Stressor in a systematic fashion is one of the most efficient ways to overcome Stress. Mindfulness is what the working millennials need to instill within themselves. They should focus on the present situation rather than thinking about other factors, including factors that cause Stress. Communication, however, is certainly the key to avoid situations that may cause Stress. Most of the issues can be resolved simply by Communicating, be it Conflicts, Disrupted Relations, Misinterpretations, etc.
Industrial Psychology is an evolving stream nowadays, with the increasing cases of Work-Related Stress. It is an immensely considerable move to encourage this field as employees usually don’t share their Workplace Issues with anyone, which hampers their Psychological and Mental Health.
Hence, it is the responsibility of the employees as well as that of the organizations to ensure that no Workplace Related Issues affect the individuals at an level.
