How do you deal with job stress?

Question

How do you? Let's say you're in my shoes: I had an injury and illness that kept me from work for two weeks. None of the managers or supervisors know my work and there are 3 managers and 4 supervisors. Nobody else is trained as a back up to my desk, except one person whose spot I took, and three co-workers in my unit. One of the co-workers is behind like myself, one is a month ahead, and the other is new and in training. I have had relatively no help and the help I get, I end up correcting. Now I have bosses breathing down my neck to get caught up and get things right. The stress is absolutely unbearable. How would you handle this? How do you deal with this?

Answer 1

Find a new job with less stress

Answer 2

Why waste your time being stressed at work?

The reasons why people are always so stressed at work can be many…..many, but the fact remains that some of the reasons are well within their control and must be addressed. Some times employees have bad bosses (I know the two words are almost synonymous), other times office politics get in the way, or the workload itself can overwhelm even the most organized individual.

So what can you do about it? After all, if you could have done something to correct the problem, you would have, right? Well, the answer is it depends. Sometimes, we forget to look at obvious solutions because we are too deep into the situation to see our options.

The first course of action is to reassess the work-personal life balance. If this relationship is not in balance, you are at a loss, especially if you are leaning toward work. Work is important, but never as important as family. Second, you need to ask yourself, what is the point of your job. Why do you go to work everyday? Is it the money? your status? The relationships? Whatever the reason is the stress that you feel because of work, worth going back every day? I would venture say that it is not. I often chuckle when people say that they are stressed because they have a lot of work to do and only they can do it, so they carry that burden everywhere they go. While such an attitude probably describes a valuable employee, it also describes a person who doesn’t know that job security does not exist, and that all his/her sacrifice will mean nothing when cost cutting measures result in layoffs. The point is, don’t take your job so seriously. If you need help, ask for it. If you alone must carry all the stress of the organization, it is probably a good sign that you need a new job.

Another thing that you can do to beat stress is laugh. Call center workers often visit www.callcentercomics.com to get a quick shot of humor before they get back on the phones. Laughter can make many things seem lighter, and it can certainly give you perspective on your current situation. Many of us tend to take our work so seriously that we build our lives around it, instead of making work just a small part of who we are. In other words, we define ourselves by our work. This is not a healthy approach to employment because as workers we are expendable. If your work is all you have to prove that you exist, you are probably very stressed by the thought that your job may one day go away.

There are no easy answers for beating stress. Sure, pills and various substances can help in the short term, but only taking control of your life can truly solve the issue. If you are willing to put so much time and effort into making someone else rich that you spend your days being stressed, shouldn’t you put just as much effort into being happy?

Answer 3

I've been there once or twice or maybe on and off for seven years. Here is how I handled it.

First, I found ways of making my job the most efficient that I could. Ways to do this include, organizing your work area. Each drawer should have every tool you need and nothing more; No clutter. Everything should have a place and everything should be kept in its place: preferably labeled. I use a custom built drawer liner, with embossed compartments to hold each item in its place. See this site for more ideas on how to organize a work area: http://www.tpmonline.com/papakaizen/articls_on_lean_manufacturing_strategies/5s.htm

Next, I develop a routine, that is most efficient. This will differ from job to job.

Finally, I develop a pace, that I can live with and ignore any outside distractions including the bosses. If you don't want to get your bosses angry, try to be concerned about their request and then continue on with your work.

This should keep the stress down and you healthy, until things cool down or you find a better place.

Good luck...

I am reluctant to ask this of you, since you clearly do not need additional stress. Would you take a look at about 8 -10 minutes of this interview with Professor Steven Jones ? It's a 45 minute video and well worth looking at , to its end. At the very least, pass it on to those you care about.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2842384983834100001

Answer 4

Get yourself only one boss and work for them not for multiple people. From the sounds of it you are either in a small organization or one that is disfunctional. It comes down to this, work only for one person. Find out who your real boss is and do the job. If you want to meet your objectives set them with your boss and get 'er done. Also set up documentation for how to do tasks so this won't happen again. If you are the only one who can do your job it is your responsibility to document the job in case you cannot do it just like what happened. This is a classic example of failing the "hit by the bus test"

Answer 5

talk to your supirior about it, that it isnt your fault that you had your injury and illness and you are doing everything you can. then tell him you need to slow down a little bit. everyone needs to ask for help now and then.

then find something relaxing that you like to do and forget about everything and spend some time on yourself and not worrying.

Answer 6

I'd be putting my resume out on Monster, and contacting your company's direct competetors web sites for simular job opportunities.

Answer 7

Check out (http://www.reducingstress.net ) there is a lot of great articles and expert advice on the subject there.

Answer 8

Planning for the inevitable and managing my time the best I know how.

Answer 9

Quit.

Answer 10

SOMETIMES ITS JUST BEST TO MOVE ON...ITS CLEAR THAT YOUR BOSSES ARE PUNISHING YOU FOR BEING ILL--SO THEY JUST WANNA DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO MAKE YOUR JOB A LIVING H3LL---THAT WAY THEY HAVE SOMEONE TO BLAME IF THINGS ARE NOT PERFECT TO THEIR BOSSES....