Do you feel under pressure at work?

April is Stress Awareness Month in the UK.

Did you know that stress accounts for around half of all sick days, so it’s a big problem?

Many organisational factors cause stress in employees, e.g. excessive workload and administration.

Work-related stress is also a warning sign for burnout, depression and physical health problems such as IBS, muscle tension and insomnia.

While workplaces can create chronic stress conditions, many of us often feel under pressure to be productive and perform well, too.

So, what can you do to relieve stress at work?

Over in our community this month, we’re exploring two particular aspects of work-related stress:

1. High expectations

2. Perfectionism

If you ever feel uncomfortable slowing down and putting in half the effort, then you’ll discover some valuable ideas and skills in this topic.

Do you put pressure on yourself at work?

Even when you aren’t surrounded by demanding bosses or colleagues, you can pressure yourself. You feel like you’ve always got to do more and never make mistakes. You doubt your value and never take time to enjoy your accomplishments.

Striving can be like going round and round on the hamster wheel; you get faster and faster, and your heart rate keeps going up.

That’s fine if you can stop, sleep and recuperate.

What happens when you get headaches, lose concentration and can’t sleep?

These are signs of chronic stress, and it’s a warning to slow down and take some leave.

How can you reduce your stress at work?

Here are a few of the best resources to deal with stress at work:

• ​Take the 30 Day Challenge with Stress Management Society.​
• ​How to manage and reduce stress – free booklet from Mental Health Foundation.​
• ​Ted Talks to help you manage stress.​
• ​Free Articles about Stress on the Openforwards blog.​

Would you like to join the conversation in our private online community?

I’m interested to learn more about your experiences of work-related stress and the need to strive.

• How do they impact your performance and your wellbeing?
• What do you gain, and what does it cost you?

These are just a couple of questions to think about as we move through April, talking, learning and reflecting on what we can do to alleviate our stress at work.

You can get access to previous topics on self-esteem and wellbeing.

Plus, you can get the specific knowledge and skills to stop fear, shame, hurt and anger from controlling your life in our fantastic online course, From the Feet Up.

If you want to take a course, meet fellow humans or just follow the conversation, then you can take it for a free seven-day test drive.