Job Stress - 8 Tips to Help Handle Job Stress

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Unmanaged job stress led me to a heart attack.

Trent Jensen was a quiet, mild mannered, polite hard worker. That’s why his co-workers were shocked when Trent attacked a copy machine at work.

Don’t let it happen to you. Here are 8 great tips from Tery Robertson

Job Stress - 8 Tips to Help Handle Job Stress
By Tery Robertson

Trent Jensen was a quiet, mild mannered, polite hard worker. He wasn’t sullen and he wasn’t overly jovial. He was just…well, normal. Trent generally arrived early to his cubicle in the IT Department of a Fortune 250 company and worked diligently until noon when he generally lunched with several co-workers. He then returned to his desk (located in Building C, floor 2, the third row down, 5th cubicle on the left) and worked or attended meetings until time to leave. His job was quite stressful with numerous deadlines and meetings, however Trent seemed to take it in stride. As more and more deadlines piled up, he started taking his laptop home with him and spending nights and weekends trying to get caught up. The pattern was followed year after year. That’s why everyone was surprised when one morning, Trent just flipped out.

Trent was preparing for a meeting and needed to make copies of some documents. Once again, the brand new color copier (that cost more than the average worker’s salary) jammed. And it didn’t just jam a little - it jammed completely and utterly. That’s when Trent just lost it. He screamed, he yelled, he cussed, he picked up the closest thing (which happened to be an umbrella) and attacked the helpless copy machine. Of course, everyone’s heads popped up out of their cubicles to watch the spectacle but no one tried to calm or stop Trent - they just stared, slack-jawed, and let him rant and rave. After several minutes the copier was totally destroyed and Trent was escorted from the building by 5 armed company security guards.

Of course, Trent’s melt down was the main topic of conversation for days. Those who were his friends were concerned but many others just enjoyed discussing what had happened and how he looked as he was demolishing the copy machine. Of course, the story became embellished and soon spun out of control.

Trent took a medical leave of absence and never returned to his Building C, floor 2, the third row down, 5th cubicle on the left position.

So just what was it that triggered Trent’s melt down and how could it have been prevented?

Here are 8 tips that if Trent had followed, his melt down might have been prevented.

1. Meditate - An open cubicle environment can be particularly stressful to workers. The constant noise level, phones ringing, interruptions cut down on productivity and raise stress levels. By using some simple meditation techniques, Trent could have learned to relax and filter out the background interruptions.

2. Create - As the mental and emotional stresses of his job increased, Trend changed his priorities from his family and interests to spending more and more time working. His free-time disappeared and he started experiencing marital problems which further multiplied his stress. If Trent had created several important elements he could have made his life a bit easier.

Create Free Time. Schedule a set time to spend with those you love. Put away the work and don’t allow it to impede quality time with friends and family.

Create an Exercise Routine. Although Trent’s company had its own expensively equipped gym, tennis courts, and jogging trail, Trent never felt that he had the time to spend exercising. Therefore, his health started deteriorating and he stopped enjoying any kind of physical activity.

Create a “things-to-do” list. Trent was so wrapped up in constantly feeling as though he was “putting out fires” that he never seemed to get ahead of his work load. He jumped from one crisis to the next - and the tasks that were routine last week, became critical this week. By setting up a list and prioritizing his tasks, Trent could have handled his job tasks in a more efficient manner.

3. Concentrate - The environment that Trent worked in wore upon him more than he knew. The constant low-level noise distracted him and therefore tasks took longer than they should have. There are several techniques that Trent could have utilized that would have allowed him to improve his concentration. They include meditation techniques, white noise machine and even ear plugs.

4. Relocate - It doesn’t hurt to check into the possibility of relocating to a quieter part of the floor. Trent was in a high traffic area next to the copy machine. He could have possibly moved to a quieter area.

5. Eliminate - There are multiple techniques that Trent could have used to eliminate, or at least alleviate his stress.

6. Evaluate - Oft times people are so caught up in their moment to moment business, that they don’t take the time to just sit and think. If Trent had stopped to taken some time to prioritize and then perhaps his melt down could have been prevented.

7. Medicate - Sometimes people’s body chemistry goes haywire. Trent’s meltdown is an indication that something extreme was happening. Perhaps a quick trip to the doctor would have been in order.

8. Rejuvenate - Trent was so caught up in his job that he spent more and more time working and less time relaxing. He became so tightly wound that he broke. When you’re in a high stress position, it’s important to prioritize things.

Although Trent’s name has been changed, the scenario is true. I was one of the prairie dog people who stood with my mouth agape, watching Trent attack the copy machine with an umbrella. (This happened 10 years prior to Brittney’s umbrella attack on the SUV). I was one of the people whom Trent lunched with almost daily. After witnessing Trent’s behavior that day, I realized that almost anyone in our department could be in the same position as Trent. That’s when I started making changes in my life - positive changes that allow me to work from home, have my own schedule and make a lot more money than Trent ever dreamed of making.

If you are in danger of being a “Trent”, then contact me or put together a plan to make positive, healthy changes in your life.

Tery Robertson is an Internet Marketer/Online Network Marketing Coach who spent many years in Fortune 500 corporate environments and now enjoys the personal and financial freedom of creating her own online businesses. She consults and mentors other entrepreneurs who are interested in creating their own 6 figure plus incomes. She can be contacted at info@nourishinglife.com or http://www.nourishinglife.com

Article Source: Tery Robertson
Article Source: Job Stress - 8 Tips to Help Handle Job Stress

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Job Stress - 8 Tips to Help Handle Job Stress