Like many jobs around the world, people like you who hold an IT job in Myanmar get stressed at work, too. Whether it’s the difficulty of the commute to work, co-workers you don’t like, the amount of things you have to do, or maybe even your boss that you’re not particularly fond of, there are many reasons why you or your colleagues are stressed over work.
Stress isn’t necessarily bad; without it, you won’t be able to overcome new challenges. If your stress is within your comfort zone, you can still gather the energy to focus on what you’re doing; it can help you get through the difficult hurdles that takes place through the day, such as meetings, presentations, or new deals with clients. In some occasions, it’s what keeps you alert and ready at all times. However, some – if not most jobs – demand so much from people. Sometimes, they even demand impossible things which discourage employees and prompt them to just give up and quit because of the overwhelming stress.
If you’re not sure if you’re stressed at work, here are some of the things you could be feeling: loss of interest at work, trouble sleeping, feeling depressed and anxious, having headaches, drinking and drugs, and stomach problems. Some of the reasons why people feel this way is because of their fear of being fired or laid off, doing so much overtime, having no satisfaction in their jobs, being pressured to perform their best all of the time.
To be able to more easily and properly deal with stress at work, here are some of the things that you can do:
Talk to someone. Build a good and positive relationship with someone. Telling them what you’re feeling at work can help you immensely. They don’t have to fix your problems; all they have to do is listen to you and be empathetic about what you’re feeling. It doesn’t have to be someone from work, but it would be nice if you built friendships with your co-workers too.
Live better. Eat better by consuming healthier meals and smaller portions of food several times a day. Eating healthy will keep your energy up and better your concentration. Eat more veggies as well as fish and avoid smoking and drinking. Exercise can also be a great reliever of stress as physical activity raises your heart rate and releases hormones that make you feel good. It doesn’t have to be so long; thirty minutes of exercise every day is good.
Sleep well. Try to get the eight hours of sleep that you need. Lack of sleep will make you even more stressed.
Be more optimistic. Don’t expect everything you do to be perfect. Do your best and let that be enough. It’s also helpful to stop thinking negatively or try to control what you can’t control. Doing so will only add to your stress.
Some kinds of stress can’t be stopped but they can be managed. All you have to do is look on the brighter side and look for humor in everything that you do.