Life’s a ’Drag’ for Stressed British Workers

03/11/2006 10:30:00

In an age of health consciousness and a plethora of alternative remedies to work related stress, you’d assume that most people are turning to healthier therapies to bring balance to their lives. However, in a survey conducted by Monster, the majority of Brits polled cited that smoking was their most common coping outlet at work.

A Monster Meter poll recently asked British workers, "How do you cope with work related stress?" 1,988 respondents voted:

32% (630 votes) – Smoke
25% (508) – Exercise
20% (393) – Go shopping
17% (331) – I don’t get stressed
6% (126) – Meditate

Many situations can lead to stress at work including poor relationships with colleagues, an unsupportive boss, too much or too little to do, lack of control over the way the work is done, poor working conditions, feeling undervalued and being in the wrong job.

Whilst smoking can provide instant stress relief, the long term health benefits mean it’s hardly the most suitable choice for dealing with work related stress. Additionally by summer 2007, under United Kingdom legislation, smoking will be banned in all enclosed public places in the UK making it increasingly difficult for smokers to find somewhere to take a cigarette break.

More positively, 31% of us have found healthier alternatives to manage stress, such as exercising and meditation. A further 20% of workers polled found that retail therapy is a good way to deal with the issue.

“Feeling stressed in the workplace is more commonplace, and it’s becoming increasingly important to minimise the source of the stress in the long-term” explains Alan Townsend, COO for Monster UK and Ireland. “We need to keep things in perspective by balancing activities to help manage stress better. Enjoy the challenges of your job, but don’t let it dominate your life.”

“With so many Britons struggling to maintain a work-life balance, it’s no wonder that when stress arises we turn to quick-fix solutions. Alternatives like exercise, getting a proper night’s sleep and improving work-life balance are all key ways of controlling work related stress. If people feel that they’re in control of their work, this can have a dramatic and positive effect on their stress levels.”

When people feel under impossible pressure at work, they tend to work harder to try to close the gap between what they’re achieving and what they think they should be achieving creating a vicious cycle. They stop taking breaks and lose touch with their own needs. Visit Monster’s careers page for advice on stress at http://content.monster.co.uk/904_en-GB_p1.asp

Sometimes it may just be a case of being in the wrong job that is causing the problem and possibly the best form of stress relief is to find a new more suitable role. To find that ideal job visit: http://www.monster.co.uk/

Feeling the pressure at work? Relax by following Monster’s top tips:

To manage work related stress
Communicate – If something is bothering you, talking to someone you trust may help you to see it differently. Discuss your problem before it’s blown out of proportion.

Be professional – Take practical steps to address the issue including seeking out stress counselling which is often available anonymously through your employer.

Avoid unnecessary conflict – Try to find a solution where both parties can reach a positive outcome. Don’t be too argumentative. Ask yourself if it’s really worth the stress?

Relax and wind-down – Find a strategy that will help you to relax. Take up an activity to engage your interest outside of work, such as exercise or meditation and leave the office early enough to maintain your work/life balance at least once or twice a week.

www.monster.co.uk

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