Debunking 6 Workplace Stress Myths

Beyond the Workplace Stress Blame Game: Understanding and Overcoming Stress

You might have heard that stress in general and workplace stress in particular is inherently bad and should be avoided at all costs. Statistics such as 83% of US workers reporting they suffer from work-related stress and 25% saying their job is the number one stressor in their lives, suggest that stress is a really big hairy monster.

That’s why many people start feeling stressed about being stressed.

And by the time they reach out for help, the workplace stress may have already reached unhealthy levels. Time to take a closer look at workplace stress and debunk some of the myths around it. Grab a drink, sit comfortably and let’s dive into how to tame that big hairy monster.

1. Stress Can Be Beneficial

The truth is, stress is an inevitable part of life and can actually be beneficial in many ways. Science has known for a while that stress can play a helpful role in our daily lives, pushing us to work at the edge of our abilities and building our capacities. When understood and managed properly, stress can even be a good thing. First, let’s define stress.

Stress is a natural response to change, challenge or perceived threat.

It’s the body’s way of telling you to take action, focus and get things done. Without stress, you might not be motivated to meet a deadline, to fend off a threat, to rise to the occasion or push yourself to reach a goal you set for yourself. Without stress you may never experience the rewarding relief of a well-deserved recovery, the joy of rising above yourself, or the sense of accomplishment that completes a healthy stress cycle.

2. Stress Is Meant As A Cycle, Not An Infinity Loop

Stress is meant to be a cycle. It starts with a trigger that takes us away from our calm state and ends with a liberating sense of safety once we’ve faced the danger. A healthy cycle is comprised of four stages: the resting ground state, the tension and strain phase, the response phase (passive or active), and the relief phase (physiological and psychological). 

If the cycle is not completed with effective coping mechanisms or sufficient recovery, stress can turn harmful. Unrelenting stress can prime the body for more stress, getting you stuck in a self-feeding loop. Stress then starts to become a chronic and sustained condition, taking a toll on your mental health and mental readiness, eventually leading to burnout and breakdown.

In other words, we need to understand that stress itself is not the problem.

It’s how we respond to stress and how we handle it that makes all the difference.

And while we can’t control many of the stressors in our private or professional lives, we can control our response to stress. 

By creating spaces, moments, and experiences where we feel safe and can convince ourselves that the danger has passed, we can reframe our perspective and complete the stress cycle. This allows us to lead a healthier and more intentional life, even when stress happens in our private or professional life.

3. Stress Also Comes From Good Events

Stress can come from both good and bad events. For example, graduating from college or starting a new job is stressful, as is moving to a new city, getting married or bringing a new baby home.

Imagine graduating from college. On the one hand, it’s a huge accomplishment and the end of a long and hard journey. On the other hand, there’s the stress of finding a job, starting a new chapter in life, and figuring out what comes next. Graduating can bring about a mix of emotions, including both happiness and stress.

Moving to a new city can be both exciting and stressful. On the one hand, you get to start fresh in a new place, make new friends, and explore a new environment. On the other hand, the process of actually moving can be extremely stressful. Packing up your belongings, finding a new place to live, and adjusting to a new routine can all be sources of stress. So even though moving to a new city can be a positive change, the stress of the actual move can make it feel like a mixed bag.

Picture you’re getting ready for your wedding day. On one hand, it’s a happy and exciting event that you’ve been looking forward to for months. On the other hand, the planning and preparation can be extremely stressful. You have to make a million decisions, coordinate with vendors, deal with family drama, and more. So even though getting married is a lifetime positive event, the stress of planning makes it feel like an exhausting journey.

So, don’t buy into the idea that you should always be calm and relaxed – that’s an unrealistic and even dangerous expectation. Embracing the ups and downs of life, including stress, can lead to a more fulfilling and balanced existence.

4. Stress Is Not A Given In High-Pressure Jobs

While it is true that some high-pressure jobs may inherently come with a certain amount of workplace stress, it is a myth that it is a given and cannot be helped. There are many strategies and interventions that can be put in place to mitigate stress and promote well-being in the workplace.

On the individual level, employees can take steps to manage stress on their own, such as practicing good self-care, setting boundaries, and prioritizing their workloads. Additionally, employees can also get involved in stress-reducing activities outside of work, such as exercise, meditation, hobbies or spending time with family and friends.

On the employer’s side, companies can offer flexible work arrangements, such as telecommuting or flexible schedules, to help employees better manage their workloads and achieve a better work-health balance. Additionally, employers can provide stress management training and resources, such as counseling services or mindfulness programs, to help employees develop coping skills and manage stress more effectively.

5. The Workplace Can’t Be Blamed For Everything Stress

It’s common for people to blame stress for a variety of negative outcomes in the workplace, including poor mental and physical health. While workplace stress is a very real thing and employers are liable for stress on the job, it is important to understand that we all have our share of responsibility in how we respond to it. As mentioned above, stress itself isn’t what hurts us, it’s our learned response to stress that can cause a lot of the suffering.

Many people develop unhealthy coping mechanisms to deal with work-related stress over time. When we feel pressure, we may start skipping breaks or meals, turn to sugary drinks and unhealthy snacks or even substance abuse to dampen the effects of stress. Our response may not be conscious, but it definitely can lead us to neglect exercise, quit going out or withdraw from relationships, because we try to catch up with tasks. Who hasn’t caught themselves seeking relief from stressful situations by doom-scrolling on social media instead of truly disconnecting?

These learned behaviors only perpetuate the cycle of stress and can lead to long-term negative consequences, both at work and in our personal lives. Instead, we can learn to become more resilient to stress in the workplace by better understanding what exactly causes our stress and choosing healthy ways to recover, thereby closing the stress cycle mentioned above.

6. Stress Is Not Just About Workload

We often associate workplace stress with workload or hours worked. However, stress at work can stem from a variety of factors and is not solely caused by workload. A toxic work environment, for example, can create an atmosphere of fear, negativity, and uncertainty, which can contribute to stress and burnout. Lack of support or recognition can also be a major source of stress, as it can make employees feel unappreciated and undervalued. Poor management can also contribute to stress, as it can result in unclear expectations and responsibilities, as well as a lack of direction and support.

In addition to these factors, workplace stress can also stem from personal issues, such as financial worries, relationship problems, or health concerns. These stressors can have a major impact on mental readiness and one’s ability to perform well at work,  contributing to a general feeling of overwhelm and burnout.

While workload can certainly be a significant source of workplace stress, it is only one of many factors. That’s why continuous measurement and a data-drive, holistic approach are needed to effectively address workplace stress. 

The good news?

Employers and employees alike can contribute to creating those supportive and healthy work environments that address stress from multiple angles, including personal, organizational, and environmental factors. 

It all starts by understanding what contributes to stress on an individual and organizational level. Once both sides, the employees and employers, seize responsibility for their respective part, stress will still happen, but no longer threaten people’s mental and physical health.

At Earkick we provide a full-fledged solution to workplace mental health. It acts as an intuitive self-care companion for employees and as a real-time dashboard solution for employers. Full privacy is granted thanks to Earkick’s state-of-the-art tech with the smallest model in the market that measures, identifies, and supports on device. Employees can do self-check-ins in just a few seconds using text, voice, or video. The Earkick AI analyzes the data in real time and offers immediate personalized feedback as well as actionable suggestions to master stress and emotional health.

The solution requires no personal information and offers science-based sequences to set achievable goals and build healthy habits. Earkick also provides guided sessions, stress management techniques, and much more, enabling employees to become their happiest and healthiest selves.

Stay tuned for Part Two of this series, where we will look into real life use cases around mitigating the negative effects of stress and leveraging the positive ones.