Managing work stress while being managed...

Managing work stress is a real challenge for those that don't know how to cope with stress

In 1930, Nobel Prize laureate Hans Seyle , developed the General Adaptation Syndrome theory. This theory outlines 3 psycho-physiological stages, our bodies undergo in response to immediate or long-term stress. This theory is very important, to understand the necessity of managing workplace stress.

1st stage is the "Alarm Stage" during which our body prepares for a fight or flight reaction. Heart and breathing rate increase and our pupils dilate. This stage also results is an energy burst, as if our body prepares for intense physical activity and digestion process slows down.

2nd stage is the "Resistance Stage" where our bodies adapt themselves to the persisting stress. During this stage our bodies will resist the stress by physiologically and psychologically adapting to it. It often occurs in intense weather conditions for example, where the bodies will alter their functions to adapt to the extreme temperature.

3rd stage is the "Stage of exhaustion" when our bodies run out of defense mechanisms and the resistance system starts to fail. This happens when the stress is not resolved, but the body has no more energy to fight it. Symptoms of the 1st stage reappear, but the body can no longer put up with them.

Let`s take a working example to illustrate this theory.

"John hears a rumor of upcoming lay-offs in his department."

1st stage – disbelief and anxiety. If John believes the rumors it will lead to :

2nd stage- Increased stress, loss of sleep and appetite. If John does not relieve the tension, it leads to:

3rd stage – Depression or burn out.

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Of course this is a simplified example of the General Adaptation Syndrome, but it will allow you to grasp the notion. The moral of the story is: you need to prevent yourself from ever going beyond the first stage, as the consequences can be serious. For example, a person can have a heart attack, if the stressor is not dealt with effectively, thus any delayed cure is dangerous.

Managing stress at work is crucial; otherwise problems at the office will not only escalate, but overflow to other areas of life. Stress management is not difficult and is absolutely necessary, because problems will not go away, on their own.

How to cope with work stress? Here are some examples :

• Getting sufficient sleep will provide you with enough energy to face a day ahead (lack of sleep leads to diminished resistance to stressful stimuli)
• Listen to some soothing music (such as Holothink audio therapy or other relaxing sounds)
• Make sure your office space is ergonomically harmonious (well-leveled chair, adequate lighting and accessible drawers/shelves)
• Have a 15 min. stress relieving activity, such as a walk around the block during your lunchtime, some stretching exercises in the middle of the day, when feeling tense
• Seek pleasant co-worker interactions throughout the day to remind yourself that you are all working for the same goal

Managing work related stress is easier than one would think. It starts with acknowledging the fact, that stress is omnipresent. Thus we all look for ways how to cope with stress, as a defense mechanism. You are no exception, and the sooner you realize that, the sooner you will be able to deal with it. If you have no time to enroll to yoga or meditation classes (which I strongly suggest) you need to take another path. Audio therapy such as Holothink is one of the alternatives you may want to consider. They do offer a trial session, so you can evaluate the service before actually settling for it. Either way, you should not neglect your well-being and understand that managing work stress is a physiological necessity that all humans share. How to cope with financial stress and how to cope with the holiday stress will be discussed in another section.