When it comes to stress in the workplace, several factors can contribute to stress and have several negative effects on work and personal life. It can be difficult to manage and have a profound effect on daily life. It is important to recognize the signs of workplace stress and know how to minimize stress in your life. Here are some signs to look out for and tips to help you get through the workday.

Workplace stress can stem from a multitude of things including heavy workloads, tight deadlines, lack of support, and poor work-life balance. Poor management practices, relationships at work, and a bad physical work environment can add to the stress as well. This stress if prolonged can lead to very negative outcomes like burnout, depression, and physical health problems. It affects the individual's well-being as well as the company's productivity and growth. Workplace stress should be taken seriously and there are things the individual and company can do to help.

From an individual standpoint, a person can focus on mindfulness, organization, and time management. Mindfulness focuses on meditation and deep breathing techniques to ground themselves and find a sense of calm in their lives. Time management and organizations focus on the immediate things that are causing stress and organizing them in a way that makes them less daunting. For example, creating a list of all of the things needed to get done and scheduling when they can get done in a realistic manner. Be sure to prioritize things of higher importance or shorter deadlines. Make the tasks less overwhelming through organization and creating a greater sense of control over them. 

From an organizational level, creating a good company culture and environment is crucial. Companies should provide support to employees through programs they set in place like mental health resources and good work-life balance. Promote healthy and open communication within the workplace. Have regular check-ins between management and staff to address issues that arise. The goal is to create a positive work environment whether that be in person or virtual. Many companies offer an Employee Assistance Program(EAP) for employees to utilize and it is a great tool to assist with their mental health.

Workplace stress affects so many people in the workforce today and burnout is becoming more prevalent. This matter should be taken seriously and issues should be targeted from the source. Stressors can come from workloads, environment, or poor balance between work and life, but they need to be addressed by both the individual and company in order to minimize stress in the workplace. Creating a company culture that identifies and supports employees throughout the organization in mental health awareness is an important step in supporting good mental health.