By Chantal Blais
Special to Ontario Construction News
Workplace stress is the harmful physical and emotional responses that can happen when there is a conflict between job demands on the employee and the amount of control an employee has over meeting these demands.
Workplace stress can be caused by a number of factors – from heavy workloads and over-promotion to bullying and blame culture. Some common causes of stress in the workplace are:
- Unrealistic deadlines;
- Making people feel rushed;
- Under pressure and overwhelmed; and
- High workloads.
Symptoms of stress in the workplace:
- Fatigue;
- Muscular tension;
- Headaches;
- Confusion;
- Being discouraged;
- Heart palpitations;
- Sleeping difficulties, such as insomnia;
- Gastrointestinal upsets, such as diarrhoea or constipation; and
- Dermatological disorders.
Here are some ideas about how to manage stress:
- Track your stressors. Write them down;
- Develop positive responses;
- Establish boundaries for yourself;
- Take time to recharge;
- Learn how to relax and breath;
- Talk to your supervisor. Don’t be shy; and
- Get some support-family, friends.
Ways to maintain a positive attitude in the workplace include:
- Surround yourself with positive people;
- Fill your mind with positive input;
- Control your language and behaviour;
- Create a routine for the day;
- Be nice to other people-be that better person; and
- Don’t rely on an outside source of positivity-mind over matter.
Ways to be happy at work:
- Choose to be happy at work. Enjoy your job;
- Do something you love every single day;
- Take charge of your own professional and personal development. You’re the boss;
- Take responsibility for knowing what is happening at work. Be involved;
- Ask for feedback frequently;
- Make only commitments you can keep; and
- Avoid negativity and turn it to positive thoughts.
Chantal Blais is the operations manager at LaborTek Personnel/Safety Training Services. For more information, see www.labortek.com.