Hello everyone. This is Cody Nickol with Work Growth Thrive. Thank you for tuning in to another video. I would really appreciate it if you subscribe to the channel. If you find value in this video, please like it and recommend it to your friends and colleagues. Your support goes a long way!
So let’s get down to it. Today, I am introducing a two-part video series where I will share tips on how you can reduce stress in the workplace and at the same time remain highly productive. In part two, we’ll dive into some practical tips on how to achieve this.
Stress and the Great Resignation
Today, I’ll give you an introduction explaining why this topic is so relevant. In 2021, approximately 47.8 million people quit their jobs in the US. In 2022, this number increased to 50.5 million. These waves of mass quitting have been referred to as the “great resignation.” Interestingly, a recent survey revealed that up to 80% of those who left regretted quitting their jobs.
I think a major reason for this is that when people change jobs, they naturally look forward to new benefits and have positive expectations about the work itself. This may include things like a better salary or improved work-life balance. However, many who quit soon realized that the new job came with its own set of stressors. And unfortunaltey they didn’t have the safety net they built in their previous position to fall back on. This may have included things such as supportive colleagues or a positive relationship with the manager.
Many were disappointed to discover that their new environment was pretty much just as “bad”. The purpose of me sharing this is to emphasize that regardless of your current circumstances or environment, you’re going to encounter stressul situations. Therefore, it’s crucial to develop the necessary tools to shape your environment, reduce stress, and maintain high levels of productivity. Now, don’t get me wrong, there are certainly times when leaving a job is necessary. In fact, I even created a video discussing five clear signs it’s time to quit. Sometimes moving on is the best choice.
Effects of Prolonged Exposure to Stress
However, in this video, the focus is more on enhancing our personal resources so that we can effectively handle stressful situations and remain productive at work. This is important and relevant because prolonged exposure to stress can lead to burnout by having a negative impact on our mental health and even physical health. Long-term exposure to stress hormones like cortisol can result in issues such as digestive problems, muscle tension, heart disease, heart attacks, strokes and problems sleeping. Therefore, its crucual to reduce stress levels.
When we encounter a stress-inducing situation or experience the fight-or-flight response, our body reacts in a way that helps us to deal with the situation. Here’s how it works: The hypothalamus, located at the base of the brainstem, sends an alarm signal to our body. Through a combination of nerve and hormonal responses, this signal reaches the adrenal glands located on top of our kidneys. The adrenal glands then release hormones, including adrenaline, which increases our heart rate, blood pressure, and energy levels.
Another hormone that’s released is cortisol — the primary stress hormone. Cortisol enhances the brain’s ability to use glucose and raises glucose levels in the blood. It also promotes the materials needed for tissue repair. However, cortisol also suppresses non-essential functions that could hinder a fight-or-flight response, such as growth processes and reproduction. This is why prolonged exposure to cortisol and similar stress hormones can have detrimental effects on our body.
Conclusion
As I mentioned earlier, this purpose of this first video is to emphasize the importance of effectively managing stress. By learning to enhance your personal resources you’ll be better equipped to deal with stressful situations.
In the next video, I will provide practical tips on how to reduce stress in your work environment while maintaining high productivity. These steps can be applied to various work settings. Stay tuned and look out for that video.
I hope to hear from you and see you soon. Take care!
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