How to reduce the stress at work?

Can you think that you will have to work only for four hours in a day, for only nine months in a year? Also being able to earn all the money you want for all your needs, besides having free time to follow your hobby? Sounds like bliss doesn’t it? This was what had been predicted by some one very futuristic for the working people of the 21 st century.

Hardly so is the seen at present. By the 1990s it was found by Harvard Economist Juliet Schor that people were working one month more per year than what they had worked at the end of the Second World War. Schor’s book Over worked American explained through the use of examples how for instance with the introduction of automatic washers and dyers the time spent by a person doing the laundry had increased. However the standards of cleanliness had gone up.

Laundry is one such example, there has been a constant increase in the work load of every individual ever since any new labor saving machinery has been introduced. Well if you consider the example of cell phones voice mail, fax machines, all of these were supposed to make our work easier but we find ourselves rudely interrupted at times in the middle of something important. This just adds to the heavy load of work that already exists in organizations.

So much of over loading for an employee can mean stress, illness, burn out, break downs and what not. This will in turn lead to poor performance.

The companies should address the problem of over working of employees; this will help them in retaining better employees and getting better output from them.

Recent surveys by a firm called AON Consulting found out that if the management recognized the need for employees to both work and recreate then, those firms had highest amount of employee commitment. The company needs to train its managers to understand signals that an employee is overworked. This is apparent when the employees work late consistently, show up at work even if sick, and work through their lunch hour too. Also when the employees take the work home, are constantly frustrated haven’t taken a long due vacation, etc are clear symbols too.

Some employees don’t like complaining to their bosses even if they are over worked, so the boss needs to make the effort to ask him if he is feeling over burdened. Small appreciation of the employee’s efforts can also act as a stress buster for him when the going is really tough. The boss can also help the employees with really heavy work loads by having brain storming sessions. All of this is applicable to you also if you feel overworked.

Following are a few steps to help you manage your work load-

• Spending time on important things - Tasks that you may feel are easy will be preferred by you, however time amounts to a lot in finishing them, its better you concentrate on the important tasks first as time may not be left to finish them at the end. Have an activity log for knowing what you spent your time on.

• Daily Goals should be Set - Whenever setting targets always have a margin for error. This way you will not be frustrated and you will have ample time to finish your work. You should be conservative while committing to a date. Avoid making promises of deadlines otherwise.

• Don’t make other’s problems as your- The task of the managers is to empower the employees to handle their problems and not solve their employees’ problems. Managers should limit their task to advice giving to the employees instead of taking on the task as their own. Companies always wish to retain their good employees so the boss will definitely be interested in your welfare.