Workplace stress is no joke, with over half the workforce reporting to feel stressed. According to Bill Schantz, stress can have a major impact on mental and physical health, and while common, needs to be dealt with accordingly.
Bill Schantz Explains the Risks of Stress
Stress seems like no big deal, especially since so many people find themselves stressed out. But stress can have major consequences if not dealt with properly in the long run.
From relatively benign issues like finding yourself falling sick more often to more serious issues like heart disease, stress is a major health risk. Bill Schantz explains that stress also causes mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety, as well as a general sense of discomfort due to tense and tight muscles and fatigue.
Managing Stress in the Workplace by Bill Schantz
While the consequences of stress can be severe, there are ways you can manage it.
Sleep Right
A major reason so many people feel stressed is because of a messed up sleep schedule. According to Bill Schantz, nighttime sleep is necessary for your body to calm down and repair itself, and if you don’t get a sufficient amount of hours at night, you’re more likely to end up facing health problems. A good night’s sleep also makes sure you wake up fresh and have a good start to the day.
Avoiding Conflict
Conflict at the workplace is a major cause of stress, particularly because it’s so hard to escape. In fact, interpersonal conflict can be pervasive and seep into other aspects of your life as well. While remaining civil is important, avoid people you don’t get along with, and try not to share too much info about yourself with others unless you trust them. If conflict happens to find you instead, be calm and handle it appropriately.
Organization
Staying organized is a great way to manage stress. Bill Schantz explains that stress levels tend to rise when you feel like your environment is messy and disorganized, especially since the chaos can actually hinder your productivity. Try to organize your workspace and use tools like planners or apps if you need to, to make sure your environment and time are all accounted for.
No More Multitasking
Multitasking is a capitalists’ dream – making you do more in less time, but without enough compensation. Forget that.
Multitasking isn’t just an excellent way to increase stress, it’s also a great way to reduce speed and accuracy. Instead of multitasking, divide your tasks into chunks, and then your time into these chunks. Do everything one by one, but not at the same time.
Take Breaks
There is no way to emphasize the importance of breaks. You might think that you don’t need a break because you’re doing fine, but the stress may be building up without you realizing it – not just mentally, but also physically.
Taking a break helps you step away from the task at hand and clear your head. Taking a walk and stretching your muscles also helps you get rid of some of the tension built up in your body and makes you feel lighter.