Stress is a normal human body reaction towards changes and challenges around you; how you deal with it and its result can affect you positively or negatively. 

Work-related stress is common; how you deal with it can affect your productivity. How will you know that you are under stress at work?

Here are a few signs that you are under stress:

• Lack of motivation or focus
• Anxiety
• Relentlessness
• Irritable
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Sadness or depression
• Fatigue
• Sleep problems
• Stomach upset
• Headache
• Muscle tension or pain

What causes stress when you are at work?

There are several stressors at work; anything that puts you mentally, emotionally, and physically under pressure. Here are 5 common causes of stress at work that can affect your productivity:

#1: Workloads

Both high and low workloads can make you feel under stress, especially when you do not know how to manage your schedule well.

High workloads can be overwhelming. The excessive amount of work can make you feel less motivated, resulting in procrastination. Thus, when the work reaches a deadline, the feeling of being rushed can mentally strain you, causing you to feel overworked.

Low workloads, on the other hand, can make you feel your skills are underused. Also, it makes you feel less secure in the role you have at work.

So, how should you overcome this?

Try managing your work well and balance your everyday schedule. Reach attainable goals.

#2: Unable to control work activities

The inability to control work activities is another contributing factor to work stress and pressure. While it is common, several people are still suffering from its consequences every day, especially when working in a competitive industry, where overwork becomes prominent.

If you want to escape the feeling of being overworked, do not let your work activities control you; instead, control it. How? Proper time management is the answer. Commit to a workload that is attainable.

#3: Poor working environment

Your working environment can either motivate or demotivate you; it is one of the working elements that contribute to the employees’ productivity. For instance, if you have a working space that is excessively hot or cold, noisy, has poor lighting, uncomfortable working furniture, or faulty working equipment, it will make you feel under stress and demotivated to work.

If you are working in a poorly designed working environment, it is time to raise the issue to the management. However, if you are working at home, you need to reorganize your working space and make it more inviting and employee-friendly.

#4: Inability to adapt to change

Say your office started a new policy, or everyone needs to use a new system for the company growth, but you are having a hard time adapting; these changes may put you under pressure.

The ability to adapt to changes is essential in every type of work. If you are one of the countless people having a hard time adjusting to changes, you need to take things slowly. While you are still trying to adapt to changes, try to commit to work that is attainable.

Overcoming the stress of adapting to changes may be hard, but you need to learn to manage your stress level to maintain or increase positive productivity.

#5: Having no support

A company that does not appreciate the employees’ hard work can trigger your stress. If you are working hard but feel unappreciated, it is time to break free and leave the company. Look for a company that values its employees because your mental health is essential than money.