IS WORK MAKING YOU STRESSED OUT? YOU'RE NOT ALONE!
You notice your work voicemail already has a million messages waiting for you even before you get a chance to sit down, you have an important meeting in an hour on top of a huge to-do list, your bills at home are starting to get the best of you because your salary just isn’t cutting it, and to make matters worse, the annoying co-worker to the left of you won't shut up! Ugh seriously, can life get any more stressful?
Sound familiar AtlantaGals? If you weren’t aware, April is the National Stress Awareness month. Why do we have a month dedicated to something we hate? Well, health care professionals across the country want to increase public awareness about the causes and cures about for the modern stress epidemic. A survey by Harris Interactive on behalf of Everest College conducted a study to see just how many American’s are stressed out because of work and found a whopping 77% of Americans are stressed about something work related. Hmm, are you surprised? I’m not!
MOST STRESSFUL THINGS ABOUT WORK
The new survey asked more than a 1,000 participants about their stress in the 2011 Work Stress Survey. According to the Everest College study, some of the most stressful aspects included:
-
Low pay
-
Commuting
-
Unreasonable workload
-
Fear of being fired or laid off
-
Annoying coworkers & the boss
WHO'S THE MOST STRESSED?
"The impact of stress cannot be overstated," said Davis K. Brimberg, a Los Angeles-based psychologist who focuses on workplace issues. "Almost all psychological problems are worsened by it. People of all occupations and income levels are greatly affected. Counseling can be very helpful in relieving signs and symptoms of stress-related issues."
So who are the ones being most affected by work anxiety? Young adults between the ages of 18- 34. The survey found that workplace anxiety levels are high among young adults ages 18-34. Good news for married people, they're less stressed than singles.
According to The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, stress and anxiety is estimated to affect well over 19 million Americans and growing. Gosh, that’s a lot of stressed out people!
HOW TO DEAL WITH STRESS
So how can we lower the stress and anxiety in our lives? Stress relief expert, Lauren E. Miller advises that you take the following steps to make your life less stressful:
-
Practice acuity. Start to observe those statements or responses to life that perhaps are impoverished and do not serve your sense of well being and inner peace. Become curious as to what pieces of information you might be deleting that if recovered would help to expand your options in life. The more options you can create, the less stress you will experience.
-
Remove universal quantifiers in life, they will keep you stressed out and stuck in a set belief system that does not flow with the growth of life around you: Nothing ever works out for me; nobody cares; everyone is against me; I never get noticed or appreciated; everyone gets acknowledged over me.
-
Use your RAS (reticular activating system) to help you tune into the positive in life. Focus on what is working out for you, what is beautiful, good, right and true in this world. You are in charge of your thoughts; your thoughts are not in charge of you. Seek out positive connections with those around you. Gratitude along with consistent sincerity and reverence for all of life will guide you back to inner peace every time you choose them over fear, doubt and worry.
Miller probably knows a thing or two about stress release. She recently released fourth book, 99 Things You Wish You Knew Before Stressing Out!
WHAT STRESSES YOU OUT?
So are you one of those millions of Americans affected by stress and anxiety? We want to hear your stories, vent and release some of that built up stress! What gets you Atlanta Gals stressed and how do you deal?
Free consultation 
