How to fight stress?

Stress - a word so popular that it is slowly losing its value... And it should not be underestimated, because chronic stress can wreak havoc...

Occupational stress - what is it and what are the factors that cause it?

Occupational stress, the one that affects a large percentage of employees, occurs when the pressure exerted by the superior is greater than the knowledge and skills possessed by the employee.

Other factors that trigger it are:

• lack of varied tasks,
• too many responsibilities,
• working under time pressure,
• problems in communication,
• lack of work-life balance.

Types of stress reactions

There are 4 types of stress reactions. It's worth knowing yours, as it's easier to fight a visible and familiar opponent.

• Paralysis

It often appears when we are overwhelmed with responsibilities, but also when we care a lot about something. Then the typical reaction is to stop completing tasks altogether.

What to do with paralysis? Anything! Just act, don't remain in lethargy. Choose any task that will push the project forward. Necessarily divide it into smaller parts and.... maybe think about gratification after the completed stages?

• Obsession

This curious reaction is characterized by taking on tasks that seem easy for us to do, while ignoring the responsibilities that actually need to be taken on.

In a project, you have to do A, but YOU are better off doing B - so the task list is one big "B". It doesn't matter if it makes sense or not.
How to deal with such a reaction? Distance yourself, think calmly about what actions can realistically bring you closer to your goal. And then - act.

• Escape

In a nutshell: "this is too difficult, I'll take care of something else."

Escaping from a stressful situation is quite a normal, natural reaction of the body. However, despite this fact, it is not the best solution. It would be much better to face up to the problems and find a way to mitigate them. How to do this if the stress reaches a maximum? Ask for help! It's worth it, because mutual support and motivation can push the subject forward.

• Fight

The reaction considered the best in dealing with stress. However, studies show that we are not able to be the most effective worker without fail, a constant brave fighter. One day you measure yourself against tasks, the next day fatigue will make you fed up. Therefore, it is possible to train your stress resistance to some extent, make yourself immune to certain factors and practice effective behavior.

How not to give in to these reflexes? A coping style is effective when you are able to adjust your response style to the nature of the stressful situation and your own capabilities. However, to effectively assess these factors, we need a calm head. And for this, taking breaks is not enough. It's worth keeping an eye on sleep, indulging in hobbies, maintaining regular contact with family, or taking vacations. Let's maintain a balance between personal and professional life, and it will be much easier to face difficult situations.