On-the-job stress can feel like someone sucker punched you, or it can feel like a slow burn. No matter how your stress feels, you’re among the three-quarters of American workers who have reported physical symptoms due to workplace stress.
According to a U.S. Department of Labor database, the top five most stressful jobs are:
1. Urologists
2. Police, Fire, and Ambulance Dispatchers
3. Anesthesiologist Assistants
4. Nurse Anesthetists
5. Telephone Operators
Researchers are still analyzing the consequences of workplace stress on our health. What we do know is that, although you may not be able to do anything about the cause of stress in the workplace, your response to it is in your hands.
Take these steps to alleviate your workplace stress:
1. Don’t Try to be the Hero
Getting burned out won’t help anyone. Instead of wasting time complaining about how much work is on your plate, politely, yet firmly, communicate with your superiors that you’ve reached your limit and can’t handle additional assignments at the moment.
2. Let Go of Your Inner Perfectionist
Your word for the week is “delegate.†Trying to micromanage everyone or act as if you’re the only one who can do a job leads to increased workplace stress. But don’t try to overhaul your working style in one fell swoop, either. Find small, one-time tasks or projects to hand off to others, and don’t fret about them not doing the work exactly the way you would.
Read more at www.blackhealthmatters.com…
Black Health Matters (BHM) is the leading patient and consumer-focused health information website for African Americans. BHM connects health information seekers to the highest quality health content on the web, shared via social media and disseminated at BHM community-based health events. Committed to making African American families healthier, BHM imparts expert advice on disease management while promoting healthier lifestyles. The result is a compelling health content experience that resonates within the cultural context of the user’s life.