Stress at the work-place is now an emerging trend in our modern lifestyles. Job stress can be termed as a chronic illness that can affect both the physical and emotional health drastically. To fight stress, one needs to first determine the underlying factor and then think of measures to curb your stress. Given below are profiles of some stressed-out workers. Identify which one is you and start working on eliminating the stress quotient.
1. Overworked minion
Description: From the time you enter the office till the time you leave, are you totally busy with no freedom to relax also? If yes, then you are an overworked minion. Your opinions are hardly heard and you are not given any choice over the type of project assigned. Moreover, you are also a part of someone’s project.
Solution: This is the kind of job that can cause high psychological strain and are categorized as “high demand, low control” jobs. If you cannot really decrease the work allocation, find ways to get involved the decision-making process to decrease stress levels.
2. Frustrated achiever
Description: You put your blood and sweat into the job but still are not given the credit you deserve. A lot of the things you do have given your bosses tons of praises but yet, you have not received a raise or promotion.
Solution: These jobs are invitation to stress problems. Your hard work is not sufficiently rewarded which takes you to the brink of tears. You could attempt to discuss your career goals with your boss and may be some improvement could occur.
3. Castaway
Description: You are just a solitary worker with no support from the boss or your colleagues. You neither get help nor a trusted ally in whom you can confide.
Solution: You will feel stranded on an island, if you do not communicate with your boss as well as colleagues. Start communicating. Approach your bosses when you need some specific help and tell him directly. With regard to your colleagues, start interacting with them gradually.
4. Doormat
Description: As the name suggests, you are required to deal with demanding customers who sometimes indulge in verbal abuse. You are supposed to swallow your self-respect and be professional and courteous at all times.
Solution: This kind of job makes you a sort of emotional labor. Go to your boss and seek counsel on how to tackle such customers without feeling demoralized. If the emotional hassling is stopped, it automatically eliminates the stress.
5. Tech prisoner
Description: Technology has crept into private space and distorted the lines of work and personal life. Your blackberry and laptop are like forever connected to you making you 24×7 accessible to your office.
Solution: This is called the Techno stress and is a growing cause of concern. Prevent yourself from falling into this trap by switching off your electronic gadgets for sometime everyday when you can relax and enjoy your personal space.
6. Burnout
Description: You work so much to the utmost point of exhaustion. It is as though you are totally drained of your physical and emotional energies. You have almost reached the stage of a breakdown.
Solution: This kind of situation only arises when you have been doing just continuous stress. In such cases, have a talk with your supervisor and see if you can take a break from work.
7. Bully target
Description: The boss simply insults you or gives you impracticable deadlines or simply issues orders as he is your superior. Sometimes, you see this happening with other workers and worry you should be next.
Solution: Bullying is a serious offense and should not be tolerated. Confront your boss as group and let him know that you would not bear his harassment. If this does not yield any results, approach some other higher superior.
8. Wronged victim
Description: Like life, sometimes even the workplace does not seem fair. Your boss might have his favorites, the management could be harsh or may be they treat you as kids.
Solution: When you are treated unfairly at the workplace, the feeling itself leaves you stressed out. Well, there is not much that you can do to modify the environs of your workplace. You are after all just an employee and not the boss. However, you could try and talk to a senior about the scope of making changes. You could even approach a trusted superior or contact the HR department. Talking about the problem and trying definitely helps.