Understanding and managing stress effectively is essential for a healthier life
The human body is designed to experience stress. The ‘fight or flight response’ otherwise thought of as an ‘acute stress’ response are inbuilt mechanisms that allow an individual to deal with threats to survival. Stress at the workplace can arise from various factors, often stemming from the demands of the job, the work environment and individual characteristics.Chronic stress is a state of ongoing, persistent stress that can develop when a person faces prolonged challenges or pressures without adequate periods of relaxation or recovery. Unlike acute stress, which is short-term and can even be beneficial in certain situations (like a deadline or a sudden challenge), chronic stress lasts for an extended period and can have deleterious effects on both physical as well as mental health.
Signs of chronic stress at the workplace can manifest in various ways, affecting an individual’s physical health, emotional well-being, cognitive abilities and behaviour. Cognitive-behavioural approaches, mindfulness training and resilience-building programs have been shown to help employees manage stress more effectively. These strategies can enhance employees' ability to cope with stressors and reduce the negative impact of stress on their health and performance. It can lead to significant economic costs for employers, including healthcare expenses, lost productivity, absenteeism and turnover.Organizations through interventions such as job redesign, flexible work arrangements, employee wellness programs and stress management training can reduce chronic stress as these interventions aim to reduce job demands, increase job control and provide employees with the resources they need to cope effectively with stress. Recognizing these signs early can help in addressing the underlying issues before they escalate.Research shows that in the United States, the American Institute of Stress (AIS) has estimated that around 40% of worker turnover is due to stress and the cost of stress in the workplace has been estimated to be over $300 billion per year.
Studies also show that perceptions of stress and coping mechanisms can vary across cultures. The shift to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic has introduced new stressors related to work-life balance, isolation and digital overload. Ongoing research is exploring how these changes affect chronic stress levels and what interventions are most effective in this new work environment. Furthermore, studies highlight the role of leadership in either mitigating or exacerbating stress. Supportive leadership styles, clear communication and recognition of employee efforts can reduce stress, while authoritarian or inconsistent management can increase it.There is no denying the fact that different industries have unique stressors. For instance healthcare professionals often face stress due to high-stakes decision-making and emotional demands, while employees in tech industries might experience stress from rapid changes and constant innovation.
This type of stress can lead to individual burnout, which is when the body's budget is depleted. Unlike acute stress, which is short-term and can even be beneficial in certain situations such as a deadline or a sudden challenge, chronic stress lasts for an extended period. It can have detrimental effects on both physical and mental health. It is the chronic stress that comes from any area of our lives that can lead to a place of exhaustion and demotivation. It's tough, but the individual needs to find the will within self to get inspired and take recovery into their own hands. Understanding the sources of stress is crucial for both employees and employers to develop strategies to manage and reduce stress, thereby creating a healthier and more productive work environment.
(The writer is an educator, views expressed are personal)