Reducing Stress in the Workplace

Did you know that April is Stress Awareness Month? Held every April since 1992 the campaign helps to increase public awareness about both the causes and cures for our modern stress epidemic. Many aspects of life can cause stress, and in today’s article we examine how to reduce stress in the workplace and increase your wellbeing.

All of us, at some points in our lives, experience stress in the workplace and, at times, it can be overwhelming. Managing stress in the workplace is a useful skill to learn and by curbing our stress we can also limit the risk of developing further mental health issues like depression or anxiety.

Managing Stress When It Occurs

You do not need to suffer alone with stress at work, we share a few ideas that you can try to help you manage:

• Understand more about stress. Recognising the signs of stress and learning about the causes of stress is good place to start.
• Figure out what you find stressful and helpful. You could make a Wellness Action Plan to map out what causes you stress and what keeps you well. Once you know what’s best, talk to your employer. They may be able to make some changes to help you.
• Learn different coping techniques. Everyone deals with stress differently, so take time to find methods that work for you. Use them as soon as you start to feel pressure building. Check out the guides from the Stress Management Society for ideas.
• Try practising mindfulness. This practice is about focusing on the here and now. It might help you to find calmness and clarity to respond to stressful situations.
• Look after your physical health. Eat well and try a gentle activity like going for a walk or doing a chair-based exercise. Our pages on physical activity and food and mood have more details on how this can help your mental health.

Managing common stressful situations at work

If you feel stressed by a certain problem at work, you might not be alone in this. Many of us may experience these common stressful situations in the workplace. The important thing is understanding how to manage them. One of the most common causes of stress is that of workload. We share a selection of tips on how to better manage Problems with your workload:

• Ask your manager for help. Discuss your workload with your manager, if you have one. Try setting realistic targets and talk about how you can solve the issues you’re having.
• Try to balance your time. You might be doing too much at once. If you don’t give each task your full attention, it can take longer. Try to claim your time back if you ever need to work extra hours to get something done.
• Reward yourself for achievements. Rather than only focusing on work that needs to be done next, reward yourself for tasks you’ve completed. Your reward could be taking a break to read, doing a puzzle, chatting with co-workers or spending time outside.
• Be realistic. You don’t have to be perfect all the time. You might find that you’re being more critical of your own work than you need to be. Work within your limitations and try to be kind to yourself.

According to research, the second most common cause of stress in the workplace is that of achieving a health work-life balance. We suggest:

• Give yourself short breaks. Take these throughout the day, as well as at least half an hour away from your desk at lunch. Spend some time outside if you can.
• Take some time off. Try to use any holiday you’re entitled to. If things get too much, a few days off or a long weekend can help you feel refreshed. This can even increase your productivity in the long run.
• Focus on your life outside work. Nurture relationships with people you don’t work with. Develop interests and skills that you don’t use in your job. This can help you see the difference between your personal life and your working life.
• Develop end-of-day habits. Finish your working day by tidying your workspace or making a to-do list for tomorrow. This can help you switch off from work, especially if you’re working from home.

Finally, one of the most difficult and stressful situations at work is when one feels about a lack of support. It may be useful to explore the below suggestions:

• Find out about services in your workplace. Some organisations have employee assistance programmes (EAPs) which offer free advice and counselling. Others have internal support systems such as mentoring or buddy systems.
• Tell someone that you feel unsupported. You should be able to discuss this with your manager. If you feel you can’t talk to them, speak or write to someone else. This could be your human resources department or trade union representative, if you have one.
• Develop good relationships with your colleagues. Connecting with people you work with can help build up a network of support. Having connections with co-workers can also make work feel more enjoyable.

For more information on stress and how to better cope in the workplace, the RCVS have created an initiative called Mind Matters which aims to improve the mental health and wellbeing of those in the veterinary team, including students, veterinary nurses, veterinary surgeons and practice managers https://vetmindmatters.org/