Traffic jams, deadlines, colleague conflicts and busy schedules are some of the factors that contribute to stress. Work-related stress happens often, as stressors exist everywhere. A simple miscommunication or misunderstanding with a colleague can cause enough stress that could bother a person for days.
Based on Stress…At Work, a publication of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health or NIOSH, 25% of all the working population indicated that their jobs are the primary stressor in their life. Meanwhile, 40% of the workers perceive their jobs as very stressful.
Staying calm when you are highly stressed at work or in your life can be extremely difficult. Fighting one stressor after another can wear a person out. Despite the struggle, it is important to overcome stress in order to live a healthy lifestyle
Causes of Stress
Before you can fight stress, it is important to learn what causes it. One person’s causes of stress is different from others. Different things can stress out each person. Therefore, determining what stresses you out is helpful in staying calm during stressful situations.
- Unhappy with the job. Sometimes, one may feel like he or she is just going with the flow. They have a stable job with a high-paying salary; however, they still feel unhappy. As a result, they feel stressed out. One of the reasons why an employee feels this way is that they are unhappy with what they are doing.
- Too much work. Even though you love your job, too much work can still stress you out. Getting assigned to too much workload as well as being asked to work long hours will surely take its toll on you. Remember too much work is not good for your overall well-being.
- Uncomfortable situations. There are instances where workers are placed in situations that make them uncomfortable. If you are the type of person who keeps to him or herself, being tasked to give a speech in front of your colleagues may stress you out.
Ways to Stay Calm When Stressed
You may be wondering what you should do when you cannot handle the pressure anymore. When you are stressed out, do you shout, cry or kick something? When everything feels like it’s too much to handle, there are times when the only way to get out of the situation is to keep calm and tell yourself that everything will be fine.
Keeping calm during stressful situations can be surprisingly easy, but it takes a lot of self-control to succeed:
- Determine what stresses you out. Tracking the events, things or people stressing you out enables you to create different ways to handle them. Once you are able to pinpoint your stressors, it is now easier to choose the ways on how you can address them.
- Take a breather. Whenever you feel like the stress is too much, try walking away and take a moment to just breathe. Breathe in and out for a few minutes until you feel relaxed. You may be surprised at how much a 10-minute breather can make a huge difference in your day.
- Focus on the good. Nobody has solved a problem just by whining about it. Instead of dwelling on what makes your day at work horrible, try focusing on the good. Look for solutions to the problems instead of focusing too much on them.
- Set goals. Try focusing on one task or goal before doing another. This will enable you to finish tasks in an organized manner. It is great if you think about the bigger picture; however, breaking down the ways to get to your goals will lessen the amount of pressure when it comes to your work. Not only does this help prevent procrastination, but it also reduces the overwhelming feeling and increases productivity in the workplace.
- Be rational. Do not let your emotions get the best of you. Always be rational when it comes to your work-related decisions. Assess a situation first before letting it ruin your day. Being rational also helps you think straight.
- Eliminate negativity. Negative energy can affect the mood and the in the workplace. Whether it is a thought, thing or a person, you have to eliminate the negative elements in your workspace as well as your life. Hanging onto something that only causes you to feel stressed or anxious, and is not healthy. The longer you keep them around, the longer you stay stressed.
Stressors may be present everywhere, but keeping calm whenever you feel stressed is easy. Cut yourself some slack and learn how to relax. This way, you can calm down during any stressful situation so you don’t become too kick and be out of pocket if you have to take time off work.
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Jessica Wilson 
Jessica is a professional health expert who works for some major health industry giants. She currently writes for Membersown and is dedicated to helping people learn more about health related topics along the journey. When she’s not a health advocate, she enjoys some down time traveling or talking with family