Are you St ressed?

Feel like you are Losing It?

Stress…
• Researchers define stress as a physical,
mental, or emotional response to events
that causes bodily or mental tension.
Simply put, stress is any outside force
or event that has an effect on our body
or mind.

What Causes Us Stress?What Causes Us Stress?
While locked up prisoners make
twenty decisions a day, those of us
walking the streets make one
hundred & twenty decisions a day.
-Prison Fellowship

Signs of StressSigns of Stress
• Physical
– Headache
– Back Pain
– Fatigue
– Aches and Pains
• Mental
– Difficulty Concentrating
– Increased Errors
– Poor Decision Making

Myths of StressMyths of Stress
• All stress is bad
• Stress will not hurt you
• What stresses you out also stresses
me out
• No symptoms, no stress
• Only major symptoms of stress are
harmful

How many hats do you wear?How many hats do you wear?
• Personal
• Work Related

Managing StressManaging Stress
What is your favorite stress reliever?

How Can We Manage Stress?How Can We Manage Stress?
Live with an Attitude of Gratitude
Be Grateful for what you have.

Time ManagementTime Management
• Get organized
• Get structured
• Set short term goals
• Set long term goals
• Use a planner:
– daily schedule and “To Do” list

RelaxationRelaxation
• Breathing: practice deep breathing
• Progressive muscle relaxation
• Guided Imagery
• Meditation
• Tapes, CDs etc.: Either something
structured (commercial) or soothing
music
• Choose and schedule it in

Cognitive (Thoughts)Cognitive (Thoughts)
• Pay attention to what you say to
yourself
• Identify negative thinking and
irrational beliefs
• Negative thinking leads to stress and
anxiety
• Teach thought-stopping techniques
• Teach affirmations

One negative thought
leads to another………..
then another………..
then another …..
Pretty soon you have ruined your entire life

SpiritualitySpirituality
• Church, etc
• Help others
• Spend quiet time every day
• Be thankful
• Think positively
• Put your faith to work!
"I am at peace in the midst of chaos or madness.
No person, place or thing has the power to upset me.".

EatingEating
• Cut down on sugar, caffeine,
processed foods
• Eat nutritiously: all food groups,
especially fresh fruits and veggies
• Eat a little every couple of hours or
so
• Eat slowly

More Ideas…
• Laugh Often
• Try a New Thing
• Cry
• Get Enough Sleep
• Exercise & Fresh Air
• Build a Support System – Friends, Family
and Co-Workers
• SAY “NO” OCCASSIONALY

Even More Ideas
• Let go of perfectionism
• Learn to be flexible
• Relax your standards
• Focus less on pleasing others and
more on pleasing yourself
• Stay away from negative people
• Surround yourself with upbeat,
flexible and fun people.

Personal Stress First Aid KitPersonal Stress First Aid Kit
• What would you put in yours?
• I have in mine…

Name Your StressorName Your Stressor
• Person
• Place
• Thing
• Combination

Ann Landers said…Ann Landers said…
“People take
advantage of
you only with
your permission”

Defining StressDefining Stress
Common Causes of Stress
• Organizational Factors
– Task demands include job design, working
conditions, the physical layout, and work
quotas.
– Role demands include role conflicts, role
overload and role ambiguity.
– Interpersonal demands include lack of social
support and poor interpersonal relationships.

Defining StressDefining Stress
Common Causes of Stress
– Organizational structure causes include
excessive rules and lack of opportunity to
participate.
– Organizational leadership causes include
supervisory styles which cause unrealistic
pressures, tight controls, and the threat of job
loss.

Fundamentals of
Human Resource
Defining StressDefining Stress
Reducing Stress
• HRM approaches include
– matching individuals to their jobs
– clarifying expectations
– redesigning jobs
– offering involvement and participation

Fundamentals of
Human Resource
Defining StressDefining Stress
Reducing Stress
• Dilemmas for HRM include:
– balancing the need to
energize people with the need
to minimize dysfunctional
stress
– deciding how much an
employer can interrupt on
employees’ personal lives

Defining StressDefining Stress
A Special Case of Stress: Burnout
• Burnout is a function of three concerns:
– Chronic emotional stress with emotional
and/or physical exhaustion
– Lowered job productivity
– Dehumanizing of jobs

Defining StressDefining Stress
• Causes and symptoms of burnout:
– Organization characteristics
– Perceptions of organization
– Perceptions of role
– Individual characteristics
– Outcomes
• Reducing burnout - four techniques are
proposed:
– Identification
– Prevention
– Mediation
– Remediation

Fundamentals of
Human Resource
The Employee AssistanceThe Employee Assistance
ProgramProgram
Wellness Programs
– Programs to keep employees healthy; include
smoking cessation, physical fitness, weight control,
etc.
– Designed to cut employer health costs and lower
absenteeism.
– Employees must view programs as having value.
– Must have top management support.
– Should also provide services for employees’ families.
– Need opportunities for employee input.

Questions?Questions?