Stop! Do Not Invite Stress

Do you want to be happy for a lifetime? LOVE YOUR WORK!

Work holds a major place in our lives. Problems at work and the stages of how work is done push us under physiological and psychological pressure. That harms health, success and inner peace. As HR leaders we see effects such as rising absenteeism, resignations and higher turnover among employees who cannot manage stress — and if unmanaged, motivation falls across the workforce.

In problem solving, finding the source matters. Stress has been defined as a state that appears when the organism physical and mental limits are threatened and strained. In work life: if the job we must achieve sits above our knowledge, skill and experience, we begin to strain our capacity; if we cannot cope, we are left with stress. Causes may include:

The physical environment — pollution, noise, traffic, unsuitable workplaces;

Job-specific factors — heavy conditions, overload;

Daily difficulties or physiological problems.

One or more of these appear when employee wishes and potential do not match managerial demands. Because each employee wishes and potential differ, so do the stress felt and the response given.

Research in England found cortisol — often called the stress hormone — higher on work-day mornings than on holiday mornings. At high levels it tires the metabolism; at suitable levels it regulates blood pressure and the cardiovascular system, mobilises the person and prepares the body for demanding work — a form of resilience for the day challenges (Steptoe, 1990).

If we can use stress as a driving force or motivator, we can grow, develop and succeed.

How can we use STRESS as a motivator?

First, notice the stimuli and threats that create stress. After the anxiety they create, foresee possible failures and define precautions — while preventing anxiety from becoming chronic, which traps rather than opens perspective.

Second, adapt to the difficulties we face — keep up with developments in our work, use technology well, and keep regulatory knowledge current when needed.

Third, arrange lifestyle so that work and private life stay in balance. Instead of wishing for a stress-free life, organise life so we can control stress — move, and direct energy toward our purpose.

One of the strongest sources of stress and anxiety for employees is CHANGE. Change is a process closed to resistance and open to adaptation. The primary step for companies is to avoid disorder that creates tension, keep benefits of change in the foreground, and bring employees along. As HR we must accept that change requires resilience and time, help people believe in us and in the change, and show the joy of achieving the hard so energy and discipline can be used well.

In the early 19th century Maxim Gorky said: If your work is a pleasure, life is a joy; if work is only duty, life is slavery. Two of life most important choices are the right WORK and the right PARTNER. People who loved their craft and put their heart into it — like Handel in music or great French pastry makers — show how loving work turns stress toward the positive.

The path to turning stress positive is keeping control in our hands. Then we can align with our nature, enjoy high job satisfaction, and respect ourselves. A fine example is W. Rudolph: Doctors told me I would never walk; my mother said I would. I chose to believe my mother. She took control of her life, believed in what she could achieve, stood up — and became the first American athlete to win three Olympic gold medals.

W. Bagehot said: The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do. We must not forget that we are captains of our own ship. Wherever we turn the rudder, the ship goes. Therefore we should:

Believe in ourselves;

Define the steps needed for success and take control;

Direct energy toward development;

Think positively;

Commit to our purpose;

Manage our emotions;

Trust ourselves.

On the road to success and happiness, rather than losing time we should live that time.

I hope you live all your life. — J. Sweet