Stress is Stealing The Best of Us - How To Fix It
Enrique Rubio (he/him)
Top 100 HR Global HR Influencer | HRE's 2024 Top 100 HR Tech Influencers | Speaker | Future of HR
Do you know your current level of stress?
I would ask if you were feeling stressed, but recent data shows that the answer is almost certainly yes.
Stress is natural. It is an important biological function to keep us safe.
In fact, one could even argue that stress and fear are some of the main causes of evolution (stress to find food, fear for not finding it!).
However, in modern times, humans have taken stress to new levels.
We are more anxious than ever. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, 2019 studies showed alarmingly high stress rates.
Research from 2020 and beyond is even worse. The pandemic, inflation, workplace stress, working from home. Social media, social politics, real-world politics. We've given ourselves a lot to worry about.
As an HR professional, this probably doesn't surprise you.
In fact, you're probably feeling the stress yourself.
Trying to take care of yourself and your team in these trying times is a full-time job in and of itself. Add in your other work duties, and you may be a little in over your head.
In this article, I will discuss some statistics about stress. Then I'll share some scientifically proven ways to reduce stress, for both you and your team.
Stress leads to burnout. Burnout leads to turnover – and turmoil.
Get ahold of your stress before it gets ahold of you.
Stressful Facts
First, let me share some facts from a Stress.org article written in 2019. [1]
“During 2019, 80% of workers in the US were stressed as a result of ineffective company communication… a 30% increase from the previous year.”
More than 60% are so stressed, they’re ready to quit. Over half say that their work stress affects their home life.
And again – this is before the global pandemic that changed our entire lives, including the way we work.
What are the numbers like now?
By 2020, nearly half of adults questioned said their behavior was negatively impacted by stress. [2] Nearly 1 in 5 reported that their mental health was worse than the year before.
In the initial months, from March 2020 to May 2020, there was an uptick in drug overdoses. [3]
KFF reports “In a survey from June 2020, 13% of adults reported new or increased substance use due to coronavirus-related stress, and 11% of adults reported thoughts of suicide in the past 30 days.” [4]
Going back to work didn’t help.
Reports show that over 75% of employees have returned to work. But 38% of them say that coronavirus negatively impacted their income. [5]
Studies have shown that working remotely can reduce stress. [6] But more than half of the employees that are returning to work, are returning in person. [5]
46% of employees said that their workload was a significant cause of stress. Interestingly, almost three quarters of employees said that they would rather have more work – and get paid more – than a lighter workload with less compensation. (This could, however, be due to money worries as well.) [7]
The numbers are in. It’s safe to assume that at least half of the humans you encounter, both at work and outside of it, are significantly stressed out.
it can feel hopeless. You can't fix the global pandemic, the economy, injustice, and all the other things that people have to worry about.
As an HR leader, you can help your team manage their stress. you can keep your own stress levels hello, so you can better serve the team.
How to Reduce Stress
Because stress is subjective, there is no one size fits all cure.
However, we can use science for a clinically approved approach.
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When your body is stressed out, your brain releases a hormone called cortisol. Alternately, when you are happy, your brain releases endorphins, dopamine, and oxytocin. By lowering your cortisol levels, and increasing endorphins, dopamine, and oxytocin, you can “trick” your brain into relaxing.
Cortisol is important. It helps regulate your blood pressure, controls your circadian rhythm, and can give you short bursts of energy, among other things. Too much cortisol though, and you may struggle with weight gain, depression and anxiety, trouble sleeping, and more. [8]
Hopefully I haven't lost you with all the science. You may be wondering what hormone levels have to do with how you can help your team members manage stress.
You can take some of these proven methods and implement them into the office!
A study done in 2021 shows that spending even 10 minutes a day outside can improve mental and physical stress. [9] Even if you're all just standing in the parking lot, taking a daily break outside can do wonders for your team.
Physical exercise releases endorphins. [10] While you obviously don't want to put your employees through a full workout, encouraging a few stretches and jumping jacks may be just the brain boost the office needs.
Did you know that listening to music really does make you feel good? Music can increase dopamine levels. Throw some jazz, or another instrumental track, on as background noise, and see if it can boost everyone’s mood.
Laughter can also release dopamine. Find a funny video and send it to everyone in the office.
Finding little ways to incorporate fun and relaxation into the work day can stop stress in it’s tracks.
Everyone experiences stress. Everyone handles it differently, but stress is a universal part of the human experience.
However, chronic workplace stress, plus a lack of support and proper management, leads to burnout. To fight burnout before it starts, you need to fight stress.
All the tips, tricks, and statistics are a great place to start. But the best way to help your team is to talk to them.
Ask your employees what is stressing them out. Then ask what you can do about it.
Be open to new ideas. But more importantly, be willing to actually act.
As always, it is important to show what you were saying. Manage your own stress levels. Meditate, go for a run everyday, watch reality TV when you get home. Whatever you need to do to keep yourself sharp.
Then, when you are refreshed and ready to tackle the problem, talk to your team.
One of the best ways to relieve stress is human connection. So connect with each other. Come up with solutions together.
Stress is inevitable. Burnout is not.
Let's help ourselves, and help our teams, to keep everyone at their best.
5 years building talent at SpaceX | 15 years building leaders in aerospace & technology | ex-Air Force Pilot & recovering Ironman
2 年In your research, did you see much discussion about the difference between types of stress? I have worked in some incredibly stressful environments, but that seemed ok because we had clear goals we were achieving and there was a sense of team effort.
I comment with ?? on your posts. How come we are still not connected?
2 年??