The #1 Cause Of Stress In Our Lives And How To Manage It

It probably doesn't come as a surprise that the majority of Americans say their job is the biggest cause of stress in their lives. As we push ourselves harder and are constantly connected, stress has started to take an even bigger toll on our lives. Many employees constantly feel burned out and overworked. When you're stressed, you're not as good of an employee or manager, and you're definitely not as good of a friend, spouse, or parent outside of work.

A growing number of organizations have initiatives to promote health and wellness, but it really comes down to each employee taking control of his or her own mental and emotional health and control their stress.

Here are four ways to manage your stress at work:

Take a stress audit.

What causes you stress at work? Is it having to do the work of two people because a co-worker left? Is it being called into meetings at all hours of the day? Is it a client with a bad attitude? Analyze what triggers your stress and try to find solutions to control the trigger or avoid it altogether.

Set boundaries.

Stay in control of those stress-causing triggers. Talk to your boss and set boundaries. If always being on call is causing major stress, set limits of when you will and won't respond to a work call. Openly share what is causing you to stress with your manager and find solutions that work for you and the company.

Stay healthy.

Your physical health is connected to your mental health. Take time to exercise and be active. Eat healthy meals, even if you're stuck at your desk all day. Make sure you get a good night's rest and make time to take care of yourself.

Be realistic.

Oftentimes, stress is caused by creating unrealistic expectations for ourselves. Remember that you're human and can't do everything on your own. Learn what you are capable of accomplishing in one day, and divide the rest of your responsibilities for other days. With realistic expectations, you won't feel overwhelmed when you can't possibly get to everything in one day.

Managing stress is an ongoing process. Find ways to mitigate stress triggers and take care of yourself mentally and physically. If you find talking to your boss and setting boundaries at work isn't working, don't be afraid to leave that job behind and find something that is a better fit for your mental and emotional needs.

Huge thanks to VMware for sponsoring this episode! If you want a free copy of my upcoming book The Future Leader, go to http://bit.ly/vmwareee