Manage stress at work

Expert shares how to improve your resilience

EVERY job has its busy days but some roles take stress to the next level, with high pressure and high stakes.

In these roles, work decisions can mean the difference between life or death, a scoop or a law suit, and company success or the wrath of angry shareholders.

Mental health organisation Heads Up says causes of workplace stress can be related to the specific role or more broadly to work hours or company culture.

Contributing factors include working overtime or not taking meal breaks, conflict with colleagues or managers, bullying, and work that is emotionally disturbing or requires high emotional involvement.

A US report based on 11 factors ranging from the potential of bodily harm to the level of public scrutiny revealed the most stressful jobs were those of enlisted military personnel, firefighters, airline pilots and police officers but also event co-ordinators, newspaper reporters, senior corporate executives, public relations executives, taxi drivers and broadcasters.

The Mental Toughness

Training Centre founder and chief executive Andrew Wittman draws on his previous careers as a US Marine and special agent when presenting on topics of resilience and pressure.

He says the best advice for managing stress, whether in a military or corporate environment, is to address sleep, nutrition and fitness.

“Cortisol, the hormone that makes us stressed out, gets us out of whack if our sleep is out,” he says.

‘‘ INSTEAD OF ASKING ‘WHY AM I SO STRESSED OUT?’ A BETTER QUESTION WOULD BE ‘HOW CAN I HANDLE PRESSURE BETTER?’.

“(With corporate clients) I make them log their sleep hours and send it to me every day.

“Nutritional and water intake is also important. We all know an Oreo is probably not the most helpful choice.

“As far as fitness, you don’t have to be a cross-fitter but get out for a 10-minute walk each day and it will help balance your hormones.”

When addressing a specific