Occupational Stress-A Professional Enemy

Stress is the phenomenon we experience in our daily life. There are many factors that result in stress but an important form of stress is “Occupational Stress” – Stress related to our profession, job or work. At work place there are many causes that initiate stress in employees. Some common causes are increased responsibilities, expectations at work, change in higher management, low wage or increment and insecurity of job.
Stress if not handled properly can lead to damaged health resulting in hypertension, tachycardia, respiratory problems, Fatigue, sleep disorders, social withdrawal, drugs intake, attention deficit, muscular aches, tension headaches and number of psychological disorders. Such an employee fails to work at his full capacity and his interest in his work activities start to decrease and in the end organization and employee both suffer. Occupational stress disturbs professional as well as private life.
Organizations must regularly take feedback from employees to check the level of occupational stress among them. Some useful tools in this regard are occupational stress scale, individual and group counseling, OSI-R scale and Job stress survey. To cope stress in a workplace, organizations must introduce stress management plan. The management must take steps to eliminate the factors which can undermine the employee’s performance level. The environment of the workplace should be supportive and energetic and free from occupational hazards. Following are few tips we can use to cope occupational stress at personal level:

1. Get involved in a regular physical activity 
2. Join gym, start running or take swimming class or give a shot at local Golf course 
3. Take up a new task or hobby
4. Learn a new language or a new skill like painting or playing an instrument Get enough sleep
5. Give a break to your mind and body with full night sleep Think Positively about your Job
6. avoid negatively thinking co workers, appreciate and celebrate your accomplishments Manage your work
7. Make balanced schedules, take regular breaks and manage time effectively Take time away
8. when stress is mounting, spend few minutes in meditation, or listen to a small piece of music or have a small walk Relaxation Training
9. Try to regularly practice general relaxation or undergo therapeutic massage 
10. Laugh and stay light
11. Smile at your co workers and have enough level as it’s a natural anti depressant Occupational stress can kill our professional life so stay safe and keep smiling. 

Student Focus | 4th Edition

By Jawad Ali Hashim

Course Coordinator of Physiotherapy

ACE Institute of Allied Health Sciences, Lahore

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