We will never be without stress, but we can learn to manage it.

The CDC estimates roughly one-third of workers report high levels of stress at work. The average business professional can have 30-50 projects on their plate at once while dealing with up to 7 interruptions an hour. At the end of the day, the stress level maintained by the average American worker is equal to being chased by a saber tooth tiger! Let’s review the effects of stress on the body and the company.

Emotional effects of stress

  • Feeling overwhelmed or loss of control
  • Becoming easily frustrated and agitated
  • Lack of focus
  • Difficulty quieting your mind
  • Feeling inadequate, low self esteem, or disconnected

Physical effects of stress

  • Low energy
  • Upset stomach
  • Random aches and pains
  • Frequent illnesses
  • Chest pain/High heartrate
  • Insomnia

What does this mean for an entire organization? Lots of unmet expectations coupled with poor productivity and turnover. Turnover alone can cost a company 20% of annual salary for mid-range positions ($30-$50K) and up to a whopping 213% for annual salary of highly educated executive positions ($100K+).

What can we do individually?

  • Identify your stress
  • Keep a journal for a week and observe what is causing the stress
  • Know what you can and can’t control and begin to focus on what you can control
  • Set manageable goals each day
  • Take 5-minutes each hour to breathe, meditate, walk, realign and refocus
  • Drink more water and eat nutritious small meals
  • Listen to music
  • Release the day on your commute home (e.g. practice a mantra)

What can we do collectively?

  • Create a support group within the company
  • Offer courses/classes that foster learning and growth (e.g. emotional intelligence, financial acumen, change management)
  • Get employees out of the office
  • Show employees they are valued
  • Offer benefits to support wellness

We will never be without stress, but we can learn to manage and use it to make us better, both individually and collectively. With a plan in place to take control, we don’t have to live each day with that tiger looming over our shoulder.