The 3 Main Causes of Stress at Work, and 4 Solutions to Manage That Stress

The 3 Main Causes of Stress at Work, and 4 Solutions to Manage That Stress It can be extremely difficult to keep productivity high while constantly feeling stressed at work. Not only do you lose motivation when stressed, your overall sense of self-worth and passion for achievement diminishes.

Businesses everywhere are recognizing the toll stress can take. Towers Watson and the National Business Group on Health recently conducted a survey that showed stress as the number one risk to employee health.

Knowing exactly what causes stress at work can help employers and employees reduce stress levels.

The Towers Watson survey identifies the three main contributors to stress in the workplace, from the perspective of employees.

The 3 most prevalent causes of stress at work   

Insufficient staff support; overloaded workloads Low pay, or not enough pay increases Unclear job expectations

Employees and employers can both agree that an understaffed workforce is a stressed workforce.

People are taking on too-heavy workloads which can make them feel rushed to complete projects. They don’t always get help and support from coworkers. Additionally, employees feel undervalued when not given adequate opportunities to advance and increase their pay.

Without receiving clear instructions for what’s expected of them, employees can feel anxious about their performance. The added stress of uncertainty hurts productivity, which only adds to the alreadyheavy workloads, and pretty soon it’s a stressful combination of all three.

4 solutions to help manage stress While stress at work is pretty much unavoidable, there are things you can do to alleviate stress. These are ways you can alter your habits and outlook to help ease your individual stress.    

Take care of yourself; get adequate sleep and maintain a healthy lifestyle Set realistic goals, don’t overburden yourself Be open to compromise with your coworkers Bounce back from set-backs with positivity

When stressful times come, and they inevitably do, you need to be emotionally prepared to cope with the stress, and learn to ride the waves rather then get tossed around by them. Exercise and diet help you prepare for such moments.

Having the smarts to set realistic goals and the courage to ask others for help can get you through the stressful times more quickly. Honesty is paramount—you have to be honest with yourself and those around you about what you can achieve, and don’t be afraid to come forward when you find yourself behind. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Companies are starting to realize that encouraging their employees to lead healthier lifestyles improves productivity. Employees need to take advantage when their job provides a gym membership or has a wellness program.

Employers should respond in kind by making expectations clear and putting in place a supportive staff that helps one another solve the hardest problems. There are many tools available to companies to reduce workplace stress: compliance training courses that specifically deal with stress, wellness programs, increasing vacation time.

While there is much a company can do, the most important part lies in an individual’s ability to manage his or her own stress. Employers can be proactive in this aspect by making their office culture more personal, with an emphasis on communication.

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