“Stress is an ignorant state. It believes that everything is an emergency.” (Natalie Goldberg)

Stress in the workplace is common and caused by many different factors and issues. Many problems may never be fully resolved and the amount of stress a person experiences is often determined by whether or not they can accept that some things in life will simply never be sorted out to their satisfaction. For instance, a person may feel stressed by the way they are treated by their employer, or the behaviour of a work colleague.

Sometimes this stress can be resolved by dealing with the particular behaviour as in many organisations, there are processes that can be followed to deal with workplace problems like harassment, victimisation or unfair treatment.

If your work and personal life are out of balance, your stress may be running high.

How does work invade your personal life?

There was a time when employees showed up for work Monday through Friday and worked eight to nine hours. The boundaries between work and home were fairly clear then. But the world has changed – and with that change, the boundaries have blurred for many workers. Why?

  1. Global Economy: pressure to keep your job due to increased competition.
  2. International Business: 24-7 support to clients and other employees.
  3. Communications Technology: work is enabled from anywhere, anytime.
  4. Changes in Family Roles: dual-career couples mean more family commitment.
  5. Overtime: the hourly-rate framework results in extended working hours.

Do you recognise any of these factors in your life? In the next post we’ll provide some guidelines which may help you reduce stress in your career.