Every job is stressful. However, some jobs are extremely stressful than others; such a job is IT. Working in the IT industry means you have to keep deadlines, manage your time well, and multi-task. This industry requires the workers to be fast-paced, and this makes it the company with the highest stress-induced workers.
Some people can cope with stressful jobs but others can not. Prolonged workplace stress can lead to diseases, and it shortens your life span. Today, companies are more reliant on IT innovations than ever. This leads to increased pressure on employees to deliver quality jobs and on time for the benefit of the whole organization.
Studies have shown that 57 percent of information technology professionals leave their jobs due to stressful work conditions. More than 80 percent IT specialists consider their jobs stressful. Research documented that 1/3 of IT employees work for over eight hours of overtime each week.
An IT professional has three major sources of stress;
- Tight deadlines.
- Management.
- Lack of IT staff.
Stressful workplaces have continuously impacted negatively on IT specialists’ personal relationship and health. 21% of IT employees have suffered from health issues related to stress such as high blood pressure, depression, and heart diseases.
Recent research showed that 16% of IT professionals have a failed or strained relationship. 31% have no time to spend with their kids due to work demands. 30% had canceled commitments with friends and family to fulfill work obligations. 36% have missed social functions due to work matters. This means that 75% of those surveyed think that their job impact negatively on their personal lives.
Workplace stress is one of the factors determining the rank of the company. In most of the cases, stressed employees deliver poor scores. A happy worker leads to a thriving company.
Anxiety can be advantageous when you need to focus and work on a big project. When a person is stressed, they release a hormone known as cortisone hormone. When the hormone is in high levels in the body, the rate of heartbeat and breathing increases, and there is an outburst of energy.
Signs of a stressed person
- Lack of concentration
- Severe headache
- Stomach upset
- Insomnia
Causes of anxiety in workplaces
- Lack of support
In most information technology jobs, the workers do know whether the company is making progress or not. The boss may be distant from the employees, and this leads to low motivation.
- Excessive work load
People who are assigned more duties on a daily basis have a higher tendency of being stressed.
- Hours of work
Individuals who work for long hours are mostly tired, and this leads to stressful living.
- Rank at the organization
Top-ranked employees have more pressure at work and this impact negatively on them.
Five tips to manage stress at work
IT specialists may think that work-life balance is a mission impossible for them since they are ever busy. Despite the passion one might have for their jobs, there must be a balance between work and life. Stress-free workers are the most productive.
- Exercising
This is the best remedy when work becomes unbearable. Physical exercise is a known remedy for stress, and it helps you calm down. Exercise releases endorphins that make you feel good.
- Practice emotional intelligence
This is the ability to discover, manage, and use your emotions in a constructive and positive way. Emotional intelligence enables you to overcome tension, anxiety, and depression and to repair your wounded feelings.
- Social engagement
Communicating with other people plays a key role in managing your workplace stress. Having a network of friends help you improve your resistance to stressful situations.
- Implementing a healthy lifestyle
Having a balanced diet every day, reduced intake of caffeine and sugar, and not taking alcohol and cigarettes is a good way to manage your stressful conditions. You must also have enough sleep every day so that your mind can be refreshed ready for the next day.
- Welcome humor
Listen or read something that makes you have a hearty laugh after a long day with the computers at your workplace. You can also pay a humorous friend a visit where you are assured to laugh.
Maintaining healthy relationships with family and friends, attending social events, and taking some time off is the secret to the maintenance of a quality of life that is advantageous to you and your employer.
