Although stress is a defense mechanism that keeps us alert to potentially dangerous situations, leaving the office
every day
with a lot of accumulated stress can have many negative consequences.
Our working day lasts on average between 8 and 9 hours, but most of the time we carry the “office with us,” staying connected to our work cell phone from home or wherever we are, extending the working day to 10 or 11 hours a day. This situation occurs every day, for weeks and months, and accumulates over years.
Excessive workloads, both inside and outside the office (because we have to add family obligations, household chores, etc. to work stress), cause us to live in a constant state of stress or nervousness.
According to the National Statistics Institute, 30% of sick leave in Spain is due to stress, and almost half of Spaniards admit to experiencing work-related stress.
What are the symptoms of stress?
- Physical fatigue
- Lack of energy
- Difficulty concentrating
- Sadness, which can lead to depression
- Insomnia and nightmares
- Anxiety
- Irritability: also affecting people in our personal and work environments
These symptoms can lead to physical disorders such as:
- Stomach disorders
- Low immunity
- Skin conditions and hair loss
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Dizziness
- Psychological disorders
- Muscle tension
All these problems stem from what we know as negative stress. Does that mean there is such a thing as good stress? Yes, it’s called positive stress.
What is positive stress?
Positive stress is what has made us evolve, as it is what drives us to face problems and overcome them. If we turn all that negative stress into positive stress, we can reap many benefits in our day-to-day work.
To do this, it is a good idea to leave personal stress behind. The morning rush, family arguments, traffic jams, etc. This will allow us to focus and direct our “stress” towards office tasks. It is important to learn to prioritize, be more assertive, and accept our mistakes.
By channeling our stress to a positive point in the work environment, we achieve the following:
- Stay more active and energetic
- Solve problems in a more creative way
- Be more proactive and reactive
- Stay alert
- Help us keep our emotions more controlled and stable
How can we reduce negative stress?
Keeping negative stress at bay is key to leading an emotionally stable life and avoiding many health problems and sick leave. Therefore, it is important that we pay more attention to:
- Learning to relax
- Resting properly and trying to sleep 7-8 hours a day
- Listening to music
- Understanding that asking for help from time to time is not a bad thing, whether from our coworkers or professionals who can help us manage our problems
- Maintaining a positive attitude
- Laugh more
- Have a hobby that helps us distract ourselves and focus on something we enjoy
- Exercise regularly
- Maintain a healthy diet
Changing our habits or our way of thinking and working is not easy. So we have to start slowly. A good place to start is with our diet, as it is the foundation of who we are. If you eat well, you will feel good. Eating fruit is an excellent way to stay hydrated and full of energy to face busy days at the office.
