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Have you ever felt a familiar knot in your stomach on a Sunday evening alarmed towards a coming hectic workweek? If yes, you are not alone.
This blog will not only walk you through the common reasons for stress at workplace but also help you learn the tidbits of what you need to do to cope with this uninvited guest, that is here to sit right next to you.
Let’s dig deep to know what makes workplace stress tick, why it is more than just a nuisance, and how the right knowledge and strategies can help create a stress-free environment.
The Evolving Nature of Modern Offices
As we advance towards the new technology with each passing day, month, or year. Professional lives are no longer behind. Modern offices or workplaces are hitting new notes of advancements. It is not just about a traditional 9-5 job, today’s workplaces have become a dynamic ecosystem.
From breaking the office walls and finding its way to remote work yielding tremendous business growth, offices today are not just a place of work, they are a vibe where employees work freely and at their convenience.
While talking about the modern office, remote work, and its flexibility, home offices gained more popularity post-COVID-19. Nearly 16% of the companies are remote globally, while 75% of workers believe it is the new normal.
That said, both the traditional and modern working environments bring multiple issues with them. And work-related stress is the primary reason among most of the employees. So let’s take a deeper dive into this.
Common Signs and Symptoms of Workplace Stress
Before getting into more depth about the primary reasons for stress at workplace, it is crucial to identify the key indicators to address and minimize the root cause of the problem. The stress signs if not recognized on time may affect employee’s well-being both physically and mentally.
If you are unsure whether or not you are suffering from short or long-term stress, you can look for the following symptoms to seek help on time.
Physical Symptoms of Stress
- Fatigue
- Muscle Tension
- Heart Problems
- Headache
- Sleeping Disorders
- Digestive Issues
- Chest Pain
- Joint Pain
- Poor Performance
Psychological Symptoms of Stress
Stress affecting mental wellness may include the following symptoms:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Negative Thoughts
- Mood Swings
- Social Withdrawl
- Increased Negative-self Talk
- Forgetfulness
- Poor Concentration
13 Reasons for Stress at Workplace
After getting know-how of the common signs and symptoms of stress at workplace, let us look at what could be the main reasons behind the culprit (STRESS).
1. Imposter Syndrome
The imposter syndrome that makes you think you are incompetent for your job is the silent killer affecting most of the modern workplaces today.
65% of professionals, according to a study grapple with this spectral entity. This may pose significant mental health risks making individuals have a hard time embracing their accomplishments. And so, remains one of the significant stress factors.
2. Micromanagement
Are you feeling like your boss is watching your every keystroke? Micromanagement is also one of many key reasons for stress at workplace, stifling employee’s creativity and autonomy.
Micromanagement may lead to decreased employee motivation, limited growth, and high staff turnover. This requires combined effort both from employers and their staff to overcome this problem. Communicating the preferred working styles is also one way to create a peaceful working environment.
3. Lack of Recognition
Lack of recognition is also another major reason why most employees look for a new job. Working hard without hearing a word of appreciation can be disheartening.
Being an employer you should actively give feedback to your employees, celebrate small team wins, and express gratitude towards your workforce to keep them motivated. These little tokens of appreciation can go a long way in developing good staff relationships and employee retention.
4. Toxic Teammate
There is always the one who can make you feel exhausted and frustrated, no matter how hard you try to avoid it. Being surrounded by people who are always unhappy and complaining about something can affect your performance too. This is also considered one of the significant reasons for stress at workplace.
5. Work-Life Imbalance
Maintaining a good balance between work and personal life is also one reason for being stressed at work. Nearly 60% of employees feel an imbalance between their work and life and think that all they do is work. This with time leads to job burnout, sleep problems, long-term stress or other problems.
Setting boundaries, scheduling personal time, learning to say no, and prioritizing your well-being are some of the tips to kill this monster (STRESS).
6. Performance-Review
The annual performance review is another workplace stressor that can create employee anxiety and pressure. The unclear expectations, miscommunication, and subjective or negative feedback are some of the key stress factors for it.
7. Lack of Growth
The lack of growth is another major reason for being stressed at work. The constant feeling of being stagnant in a position, with no opportunities for learning, development, or career advancement can create fear, panic, and anxiety among most employees.
8. Being Always Available
In the age of technology advancements with easy access to smartphones all the time, the line between work and personal life blurs.
With numerous advantages of connecting to our loved ones easily, it can also lead to burnout as well, especially at work.
9. Environmental Hazards
Working in an inappropriate environment with poor lighting, temperature, and inappropriate workplace setup can be some of the significant reasons for stress at workplace. And can result in muscle tension, stress, or muscular disorders.
10. Workplace Bullying
Coworker bullying, harassment, or discrimination is a prevalent problem in most workplaces. This emotional abuse creates a toxic and negative work environment leading to workplace stress.
11. Non-flexible Work Schedule
In today’s modern work environment, everyone wants flexibility in their work by working remotely or with alternative work arrangements. Companies not offering such options/benefits to their employees can create stressful environments. The pressure of being always on time or meeting deadlines can be stress triggers among some workers and is also among the top reasons for stress at workplace.
12. Unhealthy Work Culture
Unhealthy practices like long hours, presenteeism, and neglecting work-life balance are also some of the added stressors among most workers. A study by the World Health Organization says that long working hours increase the risk of stroke by 35%.
13. Unspoken Mental Health Taboo
Dealing with certain mental health challenges at work and being unable to talk about it openly is one of the significant reasons for workplace stress. Not receiving enough support at work is the added problem leading most employees to chronic stress.
Conclusion
There could be many reasons for stress at workplace depending on the nature of work, environment, or personal life as well. The best way to mitigate the root cause is by knowing the exact reason and the best practices to cope with it. This blog explains some of the stress factors that you may experience at your work.