Working as a business tycoon at Wall Street or being a housewife raising children can have the same stress effects. An individual’s chosen profession or preferred activity can have direct effects on the identity and the levels of stress and happiness. It does not make sense continuing what you are doing if you are not really enjoying your work. This means that change is the need of the hour. A change in the profession or job can have direct consequences on your happiness and health.

Change in the field of work activity can come in a myriad ways. Making suitable modifications to the present work environment or changing one’s profession altogether make sure that the change brings about a challenge in positive ways. Only through challenge can you stay competitive and ahead of your peers. However, it is important to check that challenging situations do not turn into overwhelming ones. Another factor that change in profession or work environment must bring about is a deep sense of appreciation. But everything in excess is bad and therefore the appreciation levels should not reach a point that you may wish to go to work on Sundays. Last but never the least, the novelty in job should test your strengths and utilize them to an optimum level. If the above mentioned factors are not obtained, change becomes futile and you could be risking your body for exhaustion and fatigue.

The following pieces of information will enable you to comprehend the factors that go into a healthy and happy work environment. In addition, you will learn the factors the risk factors for a burnout and tips to stay fit and be happy at your workplace.

Your Health and Work Stress

The ways in which stress at the work place can impact your health can leave you with a sense of astonishment. This article provides all the information you need to know about the relation between the two and offers tips to stay healthy.

The Questionnaire on Job Stress

Are you risking your health at work? This questionnaire will help you assess your self and provide ways for achieving optimal health.

Satisfaction at work

This article will enable you in the evaluation of job satisfaction. This would in turn tell you whether it is time to change.

Revolutionary findings

The latest study published in the British Medical Journal directly links chronic stress to heart disease, diabetes, and other lifestyle disorders. The following are the key points to be noted from the study:

• Research included 10,308 civil servants from Great Britain in the age group 35-55. The research was carried out over a period of 14 years to study the effects of chronic job stress on the heart and the pancreas.
• The relationship between chronic job stress and metabolic syndrome was studied. A number of stress factors were considered to be responsible for the increased risk of diseases such as high blood pressure, lack of insulin production, and obesity.
• The central finding was the relation between job stress and the occurrence of the metabolic syndrome. It was found that the stress levels and the chances of developing the metabolic syndrome are directly proportional
• The social element was a key factor. Individuals having high status jobs were less likely to develop this syndrome than those having jobs of low status.
• Research has discovered a direct correlation between metabolic syndrome and other harmful behaviors such as tobacco addiction, alcoholism, and a lack of physical activity. This was found primarily in men. Unwholesome diet can also put the individual at risk. The lack of intake of fresh fruits and vegetables leads to malnourishment. In addition to stress, these factors can further complicate health.
• The nervous system, too, can be affected by stress. This can be due to the change in the hormonal balance of the body.

Ways to combat stress

Caring for one’s body is crucial in the elimination of stress. There is a plethora of ways to keep healthy and fit. A few, minor changes in the lifestyle is all it takes to reverse the negative effects of stress. This can be done in a relatively short period of time.

• Eliminate everyday stressors
  Altering your lifestyle can go a long way in the elimination of stress. Simple lifestyle changes include better organizational skills, effective time management, and other modifications at the workplace. Getting adequate sleep and a positive approach toward life will improve your health.

Stress has adverse impacts on health. These effects can be relatively harmless such common colds. The more serious effects include heart ailments and the metabolic syndrome.

Work-stress is so common that it is hard to label any job as stress-free. The key to manage job-stress is adaptability. Some popular techniques that you can experiment with to tackle work-stress are mentioned below:

Begin the day on a positive note

Some of the common household chores such as feeding your children, sending them to school, going through the horrors of traffic, and consuming coffee to kill time can leave an individual stressed. When they enter office, the stress levels are further compounded. It is interesting to observe that a stressful day usually has its roots in the morning.

Commencing the day with a wholesome breakfast, an organized schedule, and a can-do attitude will reduce the levels of work-stress to a significant level.

Know your job

Most individual do not know what is expected of them at work. Some overestimate the job requirements, whereas others do it vice-versa. Sudden changes in job requirement can increase stress levels. If you are always in doubt as to your job performance, talking to your boss or supervisor can help identify the problem. Effective strategies can also be formulated.

Avoid conflict

Conflict among colleagues or with your boss can drain out your physical and mental energy. It is common to get into arguments with your colleagues; therefore, the easiest thing to do is avoid them altogether. Gossiping, back-biting, making personal comments on politics and religion, and office humor can lead to conflicts. Avoid people who do not work well within the team.

Organize yourself

Planning the day and organizing your tasks can do wonders in reducing stress at work. Time management would mean getting to work on time and not having to worry about salary cuts or staying overtime. An organized individual is always the best and most efficient worker.

Make yourself comfortable

Physical comfort is crucial to avoid stress. The stress that the body goes through sitting on an uncomfortable chair may not be noticeable initially. However, in the long run a sore back is sure to trouble you. Trivial factors such as noise at the work place can leave you distracted and frustrated to a certain degree. Ensure that your work environment is quiet and comforting.

Say No to Multitasking

Multitasking was once considered as the hallmark of an efficient worker to maximize one’s productivity. When it was obvious that two things couldn’t be done simultaneously with the same efficiency, multitasking held no relevance. Some people find their focus is divided when performing two tasks at the same time. Learn more about the new hip word called ‘chunking’.

Walk at breaks

Office work is primarily sedentary in nature. Sedentary lifestyle has its own pitfalls. One simple way to deal with this is to get some physical activity during the breaks. Since the lunch break is generally the longest, it would be a great idea to walk a few minutes during this time. Exercise can improve the mood, reduce anger, and soothe the mind.

Do not go all out on Perfectionism

Performing well at work can do wonders to your self-esteem and confidence. However, the quest for perfectionism is never-ending and will only increase your anxiety levels. Jobs that are too demanding and fast-paced will definitely have errors on your part. But giving your best and reaping the rewards of hard work is a wise way to work. You will also notice that your performance at work is improving. Perfectionists tend to fuss about little things and sometimes play the blame game at tedious tasks.

Enjoy soothing music on the road

Listening to music can soothe the mind and can serve as an effective de-stressing tool after work. Listening to music can help beat office-stress, thereby increasing the levels of interaction with all those you meet.