Many of us support the belief that if we work hard and put in long hours on the job, the work-related stress that we deal with on a regular basis is a natural side effect of working in a high-performance culture. In fact, if we're not dealing with some sort of stress, it might appear that things are going too well, and maybe we all need to work just a little harder. This is a myth. Effective stress management and time management are crucial skills in today's workplace, especially when combating bad time management practices.
If your team is continually stressed and mentally on the fritz, it's time to take a closer look at how work-related stress negatively impacts your team and the organization. Forbes.com reports, "Employees suffering from high stress levels have lower engagement, are less productive, and have higher absenteeism levels than those not working under excessive pressure." This directly impacts job performance and revenue, leading to lower productivity and productivity loss. To prevent workplace burnout and improve employee well-being, it's essential to plan now to remove workplace stress and implement burnout prevention strategies. Here are 3 easy tips on how to remove workplace stress.
Entrepreneur magazine (Sept 2014) reports, "The average businessperson receives and sends about 109 emails per day, and that rate is growing each year by 7%. Instant messages are increasing by 11%, and texting, once confined to the non-work realms, is bombarding offices, with 67% of professionals saying they text for business."
These interruptions take us off task and often throw us into something else, leaving work undone. Yes, there are urgent issues that must take priority. But if you find that all of your interruptions are causing you to lose focus on the task at hand, rethink your reaction to maintain work-life balance. Implementing time management techniques like the Pomodoro Technique or using the Eisenhower Matrix for prioritization can help combat bad time management habits.
Forbes reports, "Modern workers are interrupted seven times an hour and distracted up to 2.1 hours a day," causing 40% of adults to lose sleep at night, worrying about what happened throughout the day. This not only affects sleep quality but can also lead to acute stress. Does this sound like you? This chronic workplace stress can significantly impact your mental health, overall work performance, and decision-making abilities.
If you're the type that responds as soon as that email drops in your box or you get a text, think about changing your reaction to something that is a bit more planned. Take this example: HR Recruiter has decided to close her email and only open it at pre-planned times throughout the day. At 9 am, noon, 2 pm, and 4 pm, she checks her email and responds accordingly. No longer is she distracted by answering each and every email as they are delivered. In the meantime, she's more able to act on her assignments and has time to think through project goals. HR Recruiter is more strategic in her time management and therefore is free to work through pressing deliverables, effectively managing employee stress and improving employee productivity.
Technology is designed to help us keep our tasks and priorities organized. You can't control everything in your day, but those things that you do have direct control over, decide how to prioritize them using SMART goals. It's your choice to implement stress reduction techniques and improve your job productivity while avoiding micromanagement.
Many will say they are skeptical… "Meditation, at work?" However, if you take just 15 minutes to relax your mind, focus on your breathing, and really remove all obstacles, you'll find that you allow your brain to recharge and provide a greater focus for the day. Meditation works as an effective stress management technique and coping strategy. Get rid of self-distraction and give your brain a rest to enhance your cognitive function and decision-making abilities.
What can you do for your employees? Provide indoor/outdoor space for walking, quiet thinking, and relaxation. Start with simple wellness initiatives that teach useful tips for meditation and ways to reduce occupational stress, coupled with regular reminders from leadership to "take time out" by focusing on meditation and self-reflection. Many organizations are currently providing options for meditation by promoting classes and instruction aimed at helping stressed employees to reduce their overall stress levels, improve psychological well-being, and increase work satisfaction.
Google is a prime example of using meditation to drive positivity and reduce stress at work. Since 2007, Google has been providing a class called "Search Inside Yourself" that is branded as a "workout for your emotional intelligence." This popular course can be taken as either a two-and-a-half-day intensive course or in 19 hours over seven weekly sessions, and usually has a wait list of at least 6 months. Such initiatives can be part of broader employee assistance programs aimed at improving supervisor relations and overall workplace well-being.
Reducing stress in the workplace will not only increase productivity and performance but will also drive creativity and innovation. The caution here for HR, though, is focus. Often, we think we know what stresses employees. However, the type of stress you face is not the same stress faced by others. Different stress triggers, such as interpersonal conflicts or job insecurity, can affect individuals differently.
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It's imperative that you understand what causes their stress—too many staff interruptions? Too many reports to write? Too many meetings? Determine the stressors through regular conversation and then take action to avoid costly reactions. This approach can help prevent chronic stress, emotional burnout and improve overall job satisfaction. Consider using tools like the perceived stress scale to measure and track stress levels among employees.
Take action now to stop reaction later. Remove or reduce work-related stress where you can and learn how to manage stress through meditation and better time management. By focusing on employee well-being and implementing effective stress management strategies, organizations can significantly improve work performance, reduce employee turnover, and create a more positive workplace culture. Performance coaching can be an effective tool in this process, helping employees develop coping strategies and improve their productivity.
Remember, addressing workplace stress isn't just about preventing burnout and improving mental health. It's also about tackling issues like presenteeism, where employees are physically present but not fully functioning due to stress or other health issues. By creating a comprehensive approach to stress management, organizations can address both the physical symptoms and psychological impacts of workplace stress, leading to a healthier, more productive workforce.