This is how Work Stress affects our personal life

One of the most important fictions characterizing the way we relate to work in the 21st century is the distinction between personal and professional life.

It is a fiction that, yes, is convenient in certain cases, but the reality is that there are a lot of personnel at work (without going any further, in most of cases our ability to support ourselves depends on the ability to earn income through a business or employment) and much of personal employment (for example, recruiting teams tend to scrutinize what we post on social media, even if it has nothing to do with our experience professional).

Perhaps because this imaginary line between the private and the labor conditions our way of analyzing reality, there are those who take it for granted that effects of the feeling of pressure produced by work are limited to that, work, and that as soon as working hours are over we achieve disconnect and leave behind the conflicts in the company, the rush to reach sales targets, and the tendency to compare ourselves with colleagues department. However,

work stress is characterized by having effects that are as noticeable or more noticeable in our personal lives than in the professional context, as we will see in this article.

What is work stress?

Job stress is, as its name indicates, the tendency to suffer from excessive stress generated by contexts linked to the field of paid work.

By its very nature, the world of work normally generates a certain amount of stress related to the need to reach certain requirements of profitability and productive efficiency, as well as the need to predict, as far as possible, threats in the form of competitive maneuvers or rapid technological, economic or political changes.

However, it must be taken into account that stress is not in itself a problem, and that always and when it is proportional in comparison with the possible risks or dangers that one tries to avoid, it is useful. When we talk about work stress, however, we are referring to a type of stress that is a problem in itself, either because its Wear is excessive for the physical and mental health of the person who suffers it, or because it leads to harmful behavior in others senses.

It is clear that there are some triggers or partial causes of work stress that are not under control of the person or that cannot be solved in the short or medium term, such as precariousness labor; however, there are others on which it is possible to intervene. The complicated thing in these cases is to maneuver in a way in which this excess of stress does not lead to a tendency to self-sabotage., instead of a way of life that helps reinforce mental health and move away from what feeds stress.

• Related article: "Psychology of work and organizations: a profession with a future"

How does work stress influence us beyond work?

These are the different ramifications through which we can suffer work stress when we are dedicating ourselves to areas of our lives that, in principle, have nothing to do with the job.

1. It makes us feel guilty if we stop thinking about work

How stress "pulls" our attention towards everything that worries us, the simple fact of not wanting to think about it and aspiring to disconnect for a while (even if it is to recover strength) makes us feel irresponsible. But at the same time, since we cannot recover, we do not have the capacity to deal efficiently with the problem that must be solved. For example, if we have pending work, work stress will prevent us from enjoying the weekend, and We will arrive at Monday with a mental exhaustion that will prevent us from solving the accumulated tasks and facing the new. All of this will also affect our self-esteem.

2. It makes us more irritable and prone to conflict.

People who are highly stressed respond poorly to social interactions that they deem unpleasant or unexpected, reacting with too much hostility or even aggressiveness. This is because this is the "easiest" way out when you consider that you can't deal with a request with the one that was not counted, even if it is only the need to pay attention to someone who starts a conversation.

• You may be interested in: "5 ways to resolve a conflict effectively"

3. Excess stress causes sleeping problems

Insomnia is an omnipresent problem in the cases of people affected by work stress, both for its frequency (it appears in practically all individuals) and for the depth of its effects: the lack of adequate rest generates a chain effect that drags down all other aspects of mental health: it generates memory and concentration problems, predisposes to the appearance of mood disorders or impulse control, etc.

4. The fact of being always on alert affects our digestion

The digestive system is very sensitive to neuroendocrine changes produced by excessive stress. Symptoms can range from a simple tendency to have a stomach ache to real problems adequately absorbing a large part of the nutrients in food.

5. Prevents us from enjoying the most meaningful personal relationships

From everything we have seen so far, it is easy to intuit that people stressed by work will have Difficulty paying attention to loved ones while ruminating about their concerns. Many people who suffer work stress look back and regret not appreciating those moments with their families, friends and couples, simply because by being part of their day to day and what they "take for granted" they pass to a second flat.

6. It increases the risk of falling into addiction

Anxiety and stress problems show a clear association with the risk of developing addictive disorders, since whether with drug use (such as work, cocaine or alcohol) or without substance use (as happens with compulsive gambling). This is due, in part, to the fact that these types of experiences capable of "hooking" are one of the few ways that many people have to completely escape the worries related to work, at least temporarily, and also its effects linked to pleasure are very short-term, so they can be applied in moments of greatest vulnerability and emotional crisis.

Strategies for coping with and overcoming work stress

One of the peculiarities of work stress is that it can be nourished by a wide variety of situations and ways of dealing with work during the day to day; that is why The most effective measure to deal with it is to go to psychotherapy, taking into account that a professional in the field of mental health offers a completely personalized treatment adapted to the needs of each patient (and her circumstances).

However, it may also help you to apply these general tips that I give you here. To maximize your ability to overcome work stress you should:

• Maintain a fixed and clear work schedule.
• Sleep enough hours, and without sleep interruptions.
• If possible, delegate those tasks that are less complex and in which you add less value to your project.
• Make sure that your workplace meets the appropriate ergonomics and safety conditions (comfort of the chair, adequate lighting...).
• Apply brief and frequent breaks to your work days, even if some are only five minutes.
• Do not consume addictive substances (such as tobacco) as a "remedy" to relax.
• Avoid distractions in your workspace.
• Practice short relaxation exercises during major rest breaks.
• Outside of your working hours, avoid doing paid work or answering messages or emails associated with it.
• Practice assertiveness not to say yes to all proposals to take on more work.

Looking for professional help to manage stress?

If you need psychotherapeutic support due to the exhaustion you suffer from problems at work or in other areas of your life, contact me.

My name is Dove King Cardona and I am a General Health Psychologist; In my office, attention is offered to people of all ages, and I also give the possibility of conducting online therapy sessions by video call.