Learning effective ways to solve the problems we face in everyday life is essential. We often approach a problem or circumstance with a trial and error approach. Lessons are learned from similar circumstances that have happened in the past and we take those skills into future situations and apply them the best we know how. Some situations are in our power to change, and appropriate action needs to take place to make this change happen. But when an area of life is threatened such as health and wellbeing the decision to make a change, ranks high in the level of importance and careful assessment needs to be made in order to see the best outcome.
The decision to leave your job due to stress can often be a difficult task and skills learned from previous situations in life can be applied to this process as well. A personal inventory needs to be made to determine your career goals, personal goals and financial goals. Re assess if any of these goals have been met at your current workplace or if these goals have changed. Weigh the positives and negatives about your current job and determine if it's worth sticking it out. If it is in your power to fix the situation to make it a better workplace by speaking to your superior and the job is worth the effort, this would obviously be the solution.
Reasons such as changing living locations, finding your work boring or desire to earn more money in a different field are all valid reasons for leaving a job. However, some occupations are stressful in nature. Over time the mind can become deceived in believing you are becoming accustomed to it. But our bodies weren't designed to function under constant stress and will begin to deteriorate under those circumstances. Excuses are easily made like “I can handle it”, or “It's not really that bad” and suddenly the decision becomes more like a tug of war between leaving and toughing it out, especially if there are no signs of physical changes yet.
I experience these feelings on a regular basis at my current job and I am currently going through the process of determining if resignation is the solution. My current job is totally out of my comfort zone as far as possessing the necessary skills. I have been encouraged to take classes to better my position but I am in no place financially to afford them, and find it difficult to make time to learn something I'm not really all that interested in. I hold the position of Commissions Manager and math was my worst subject in High School, so not being as confident as I should is definitely a source of stress in the workplace.
Not to mention managing someone else's finances is stressful in nature. I have co workers that will not cooperate, they under mind my authority as supervisor and are un-teachable. My boss thinks I'm over reacting about my current situation, so there is no way to work through it. I've gone through the process of re assessing my position with the company and it really comes down to my health and the risks I'm up against every day. Through valuable research I've determined that stress is the outweighing factor in my decision to leave my current position.
Stress can rear its ugly head as a heart attack or emotional breakdown. However, more often than not stress will build in more subtle ways for a period of time before illness appears. Either way no job should be worth putting yourself in danger with your health and well being.
The problem is not with our bodies, it is our modern lifestyles that have contributed to stress becoming dangerous. Stress during an accident or dangerous situation is healthy and the body was designed to react in that way. Physiologically during a stressful event the body releases several different hormones giving an extra boost of energy and strength to get through that situation. However, the body is designed to resume a relaxed state after the stressful moment.
Organs such as the heart and lungs slow to function at a normal rate. If the body can not slow down and regain its equilibrium, it will go into a state of chronic stress. Chronic stress wrecks havoc on all systems of the body including: digestive, endocrine and immune systems, just to name a few.
Not all job positions containing stress require such drastic changes such as resigning. It is possible enjoy a high stress job with effective stress management skills. And if the position you hold is really something that you've worked hard at achieving and you truly love your job, taking important measures to preserve your health are required.
Exercise at work is really beneficial. Don't sit at your desk during your lunch break if it's possible. Ask your boss, or HR department to get a treadmill or yoga mats in your lunch room for yourself and fellow employees to use. Exercise like Pilates or yoga increase circulation and improve mental clarity. Don't forget to take your breaks during the day, even if it's just to get up and stretch or take a quick bathroom break. Take a moment or two every 15-20 minutes to look out your window far into the distance. This helps your eyes relax from looking at your computer screen which causes a lot of strain in your eyes and head. Take a sick day once in a while. Give yourself permission to take a day off to re-evaluate your life and balance your priorities.
Mediation or prayer is effective in stress reduction. The idea of releasing worries and concerns lifts a great deal of stress weight and also helps you sleep better at night. Meyer calls it “Shrug Therapy… people who regularly get upset over the small things suffer in many ways [but those] who shrug them off do a lot better.” This is not just ignoring what is obviously there. It's picking your battles and choosing what you will or will not to react to. Not all work related situations allow you to just let it go, but when it comes to comments from coworkers taken the wrong way or sources of potential stress that do not inherently have effect on your job, this method works well.
Moreover, these tips can be used in general to maintain a healthy lifestyle with balance. Your career should reflect a portion of who you are, and what you are passionate about. When weighing in, the positive parts of your job should far out weigh the negative. Too much time is spent at work not to enjoy it, and life is too short to waste at a job that is unfulfilling.
