The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.
The World Health Organization has officially described stress as “the epidemic of 21st century” while according to data provided by the International Labor Organization , "Excessive work has multiple risk factors for the development of stress-related symptoms such as headaches, chronic fatigue, chest pain, stomach problems and serious illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, coronary artery disease and psychoneurotic disorders". This is confirmed by the American Institute for Stress, as they have found that the 75% - 90% of visits to doctors relate to health issues arising from stress. Still, according to research from the same institute, 80% of workers find their work stressful, with half of them claiming that their job is too demanding. What can I do to manage work-related stress?
There is a variety of steps you can take to reduce both overall stress levels and work-related stress:
- Take responsibility on improving your physical and emotional well-being.
- Avoid traps and habits that promote a negative attitude and increase stress levels.
- Learn to use communication skills better to facilitate and improve your relationships with your management and partners.