Stress at work isn’t always a bad thing

Feeling stressed at work? Don’t worry; you’re not alone! Stress is just a natural part of being human, especially when we’re facing challenges in our daily grind. And although everyone experiences stress to some degree in their work lives, our research emphasised it’s not always a bad thing

Current stress levels in the workplace from our recent Frontline Feel Good Index report:

• 19% of workers are very stressed with their workload
• 36% workers are somewhat stressed with their workload
• 25% workers are slightly stressed with their workload and
• 13% of workers are not at all stressed

Now, we know what you’re thinking. Stress equals misery, right? Well, not always! Although it’s something that we should be aware of, the presence of stress alone should not be a red flag. Here’s why:

Stress can mean you’re more fulfilled at work:

People with higher stress levels are more likely to recognise how they are making a difference in their role compared to those with no stress. This suggests that stress can be better tolerated if the efforts are producing positive outcomes.

Stress can also mean more life satisfaction:

Seriously, people who stress about their workload also happen to feel more content with life in general. People tend to stress over things they care about, so a little bit of stress might be like a secret ingredient to your happiness recipe!

Stress can be your motivator:

Everyone’s been in a situation where the deadline for a project is coming up, so you have that extra push to get the job done. In these situations, many people thrive in scrambling to the finish line. However, if you’re an employer, it’s important to give support to your workers when needed, to ensure they have a healthy relationship with this type of stress. Almost missing deadlines could lead to a barrier in their role, as well as effecting other people in the team.

Strategies to manage work related stress.

To manage stress effectively, it is essential to respond and handle it in a healthy way to avoid negative long-term effects. Here’s how:

1. Set clear (and achievable goals) using the SMART framework. Break these goals into manageable weekly tasks and prioritise workloads accordingly.
2. Ensure adequate support is in place and everyone is coping with workloads by scheduling regular check-ins with managers or employees.
3. Dive into training and resources. Consider time management training or relaxation techniques to keep stress as a motivator not a barrier.
4. Retrain your thought patterns by replacing negative thoughts with constructive ones. Ask yourself how you can use stress as a driving force to achieve better results.
5. Maintain a healthy work-life balance by taking time for yourself and engaging in activities you enjoy outside of work. Don’t forget about regular exercise and a balanced diet.
6. Recognise your major stressors and know when it’s time to take a step back or seek help before it becomes overwhelming.

Now that’s a game-changer: work-life balance doesn’t necessarily mean a stress-free job. In fact, a little stress can spice up your work life and make it more fulfilling!

To read more into our research on employee wellbeing and stress stats, download our 2023 Frontline Feel Good Index Report. It’s free and packed with 40+ pages of incredible insights!