Stress is a well documented source of medical problems, and there are specialist medical practitioners who can assist sufferers. Most people feel under stress at some time during their working day, or even during time spent with family and friends. Indeed, many experts argue that a small amount of stress is a useful source of stimulation.
So, the question is, am I suffering from excessive stress at work ?
This is a difficult question as stress is very much a personal experience. Some people are noticeably busy all day at work, yet they seem to handle it well. On the other hand, if some workers are faced with a deadline, they will become short tempered, argumentative, abusive and red faced.
Rather than go to the extreme of consulting a doctor, there are several factors we can consider in an attempt to measure our own stress levels.
Firstly, let us consider the following statements-
1 ‘Some days, I just don’t want to go to work’.
Although most of us go to work in order to earn a wage, work can be interesting, and assist personal development. For some fortunate people, it can also be fun. If work is consistently an unpleasant experience whilst others seem to enjoy what they are doing in the workplace, this is a danger signal.
2 ‘Deadlines in work are on the increase, and many are simply unrealistic’.
Most work tasks need to take place within a time framework. A productive worker will perform tasks as and when they become apparent and, at the end of each day, they will clear their desk, and possibly their workload. The very fact that management feel the need to give a task a deadline often indicates that the worker has a reputation for dragging his/her feet.
