Increasingly, work consumes us completely. We constantly think about it and stress about it, which negatively affects our health. What causes work-related stress and who suffers from it the most? What are the effects of stress?
Workplace stress
People who are introverted, pessimistic, and those who take every failure as a personal drama, have the hardest time dealing with stress. Slovaks are moderately satisfied with their work. Educated people, representatives of higher social classes, and managers rate it better. People with lower education and low income have the most reservations.
55% of respondents complain about fatigue caused by excessive duties. Many employees also suffer from unpleasant working conditions – unpleasant noise or too high or too low temperatures (43%).
Stress increases directly with the number of tasks and the constant shortening of the time needed to complete them. The more and faster we have to work, the greater the risk we take. We make mistakes, we are late, we are exhausted, and as a result, we experience increasing stress, which is followed by various psychosomatic illnesses.
Symptoms of work-related stress
As the study results show, the most common work-related illnesses are:
- fatigue (69%)
- back pain (42% – the most characteristic disease for people over 50 years old)
- headaches (40% – especially women, people aged 25-39, working in offices and in managerial positions)
- sleep problems (22%)
- stomach ache (17%)
- heart problems (8% – mainly older people over 50 years old and those who work in multiple places at the same time).
Stress is not always bad. A little stress can help you stay focused, energetic, and capable of facing new challenges in the workplace. It is something that keeps you alert during a presentation to avoid accidents or mistakes. In today’s hurried world, the workplace often appears as an emotional roller coaster. Long hours, short deadlines, and constantly increasing demands can cause anxiety and exhaustion. And when stress exceeds your ability to cope, it ceases to be useful and begins to damage your mind and body – as well as your job satisfaction.
In your work environment, you cannot control everything, but that does not mean you are powerless, even if you are stuck in a complex situation. If work stress is disrupting your job performance, health, or personal life, it’s time to take action. Regardless of your profession, ambitions, or the stressful nature of your job, there are many things you can do to reduce your overall stress level and regain a sense of control over your work.
Common causes of workplace stress include:
- Fear of being laid off
- Increased overtime due to staff reductions
- Performance pressure to meet growing expectations without increasing job satisfaction
- Pressure to work at optimal levels
- Lack of control over how you do your job
Find satisfaction and meaning in your work
If you are bored or dissatisfied with how you spend most of your workday, it can cause high levels of stress and take a serious toll on your physical and mental health. Even if you do not have a job you love, you can still find purpose and joy in it.
Even in some jobs, you can often focus on how your contributions help others or provide a much-needed product or service. Focus on aspects of your work that you enjoy, even if it’s just having lunch with your colleagues. Changing your attitude towards work can also help you regain a sense of purpose and control.