Workplace Stress
We spend most of our days at work, so it is no surprise that
our jobs often contribute to stress. A recent Canadian Mental Health Survey
indicates a significant increase—from 39 percent in 1997 to 51 percent in
2001—in the number of workers who indicate work as a major reason for serious
stress.
Workplace stress is the harmful physical and emotional response to a conflict
between job demands and the worker’s ability to meet those demands. While we can
physically adjust to a certain amount of stress, extreme, prolonged levels of
stress can develop into serious medical conditions. A host of disturbing health
effects, including severe depression, chest pains, stomach problems, teeth
grinding and withdrawal, are just a few ways we respond to unmanageable doses of
stress.
Try these easy stress busters and make them part of your daily routine:
- Learn to relax; allow yourself time for deep breathing and
stretching
- Meditate
- Exercise—In the Canadian Mental Health Survey, workers
identified meditation and exercise as extremely effective
- Set realistic goals and organize each day
- Laugh—See humor in life, as opposed to letting it get you down
Beat workplace stress before it beats you!
Source: The Canadian Center for Occupational Safety and Health
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Safety Poster
June
2004 IBEW Journal
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