As much anticipation as there is for the holiday season each year, it is typical for the stress levels to rise. Now that we are experiencing a new spike in covid cases, anxiety and stress levels are at an all-time high. According to a poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation, “Nearly half of Americans report the coronavirus crisis is harming their mental health.”
Like many other businesses, our team has tried multiple tactics to boost morale. However, we didn’t address mental health head on until one of our team building events where we each took time to identify and write down our stressors. Recognizing our stress is the first step towards mitigating it, and our executive team led an open conversation about helpful ways to alleviate stress at work and how to stay mindful of the stress triggers our teammates may be experiencing.
Here are some of the stressors we identified.
External stressors may include major life changes, the environment, unpredictable events, a heavy workload, urgent deadlines, or social situations. Examples of internal stressors are fears, the lack of control, and beliefs.
For those who felt comfortable, teammates shared their main causes of stress in and outside of the workplace. It gave each of us a new perspective on what our teammates were experiencing. Next, we discussed helpful strategies we could do personally and as a team to manage this stress.
For external stress, implementing some lifestyle changes were the most common solutions. Examples included getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, being assertive, practicing problem-solving, and time management. For internal stress, it usually takes some time and effort to change our fears, attitudes, and expectations. However, some strategies included reframing your thoughts, choosing a positive mindset, practicing meditation, or talking to a trusted friend or counselor.
We don’t know what others are going through, especially during a time like this, so let’s give each other some grace this holiday season! And remember, talk to your manager about helpful ways you can alleviate stress at work!
Sources: https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/05/04/mental-health-coronavirus/ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress-management/art-20044151