What is work stress?
After the Pandemic, WHO dubbed stress the “health epidemic of the 21st century”. Work-related stress is a growing problem worldwide that affects not only the health and well-being of employees but also the productivity of organizations. Work stress arises when a person gets stressed due to conflicting demands in their jobs.
Various events can cause Work-related stress. For example, a person might feel stressed if the demands of their job are more than what they can comfortably manage. Others include conflict with co-workers or bosses, threats to job security, constant change, etc.
Managing stress at work has become a major issue, and it is essential to learn how to manage stress. Physiotherapy at home has helped many people handle stress by learning simple breathing and stretching exercises to reduce pain and overcome anxiety.
How to handle work stress?
There are some stressful elements present in every job, depending upon the nature of the job. For instance, meeting a deadline may be stressful, or carrying out a task in the field may induce stress. Some tips for managing work stress are:
- Track what leads to stress. Identify the situations which induce stress and push you on edge. This can help you take proactive steps towards managing stress and building self-awareness.
- Learn to cope positively. Do your best to make healthy choices to combat stress. Rather than falling prey to using a substance or other negative coping mechanisms, take time out to identify your patterns and learn positive coping methods like talking to colleagues or distancing yourself from the source of stress.
- Establish healthy boundaries. Boundaries are healthy and important to create a balance in life. Spend quality time with your family when you are at home and work efficiently at your workplace.
- Prioritize relaxation and take short breaks to avoid the negative effects of burnout, learning to relax your mind and body. Take short breaks in between heavy tasks and allow yourself to rejuvenate.
- Get support. Accepting help from trusted others may contribute positively to combating stress. Communicate with your supervisor about resources to manage stress through employee assistance programs in the form of necessary information and counseling.
Working long hours in a high-stress environment can harm our mental and physical state. If a few of these steps are followed, it is possible to reduce the stress at work, and in time you can move towards overcoming stress. However, if extreme stress levels persist, please feel free to reach out to a psychologist or a counselor.
How Physiotherapy helps in reducing work stress?
It is important to reduce stress as stress leads to a negative impact on the body and mind. Physiotherapy at home can help relieve stress from the body and the mind. A physical therapist initially talks to the patient to get a complete picture of the situation and works on it to adapt the right techniques that will work for you.
Massage
The most impacted muscles due to stress and afflicted with pain are the neck, head, back and shoulders. The muscles and nerves in these parts may feel tight or become painful. Massage helps manipulate these painful muscles by applying controlled pressure on them. This increases blood flow, relieves tension, and facilitates movement.
Massage therapy is available in different forms. In reflexology, the focus is on massaging the ears, hands, and feet. In shiatsu, the therapists primarily use the fingers to massage specific body parts.
Deep breathing
Deep breathing is another great way to reduce stress by lowering blood pressure and heart rate. When people are stressed or anxious, they generally start breathing heavily and rapidly. This is called hyperventilating, and the answer to that is because when a person is tensed up, each breath fills up their upper lungs, which makes the anxiety worse. But this can be fixed by breathing exercises. Physiotherapists share breathing exercises that help to consciously control hyperventilating, promote relaxation, and reduce stress.
Physical activity
Physiotherapy encourages the body to release endorphins, also called the “feel good” hormones. These hormones are our body’s natural pain killers and mood elevators, so they are ideal for combating stress and the negative effects of stress on our bodies.
Physiotherapists design a few physical workplace exercises like stretching and other desk exercises to stretch and strengthen specific muscles that become fatigued while sitting or standing for a prolonged time at work.
Conclusion:
Physiotherapy can do wonders for stress relief and stress management. Incorporating a physio at-home treatment plan into our daily routine can help manage stress better, alleviate some weight on our minds, and relieve tension in our bodies.
