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Don’t let stress become a distress


Stress — everyone has it. It is a natural part of life; but
too much stress can cause health problems and affect
your ability to live and work safely. Stress occurs when
we are faced with situations that cause fear — worries
about family, money and work all cause stress.

Stress can be both good and bad
Some stress is normal and even beneficial. It can provide the energy and motivation to meet daily challenges.
Stress in these situations can help you improve performance, increase productivity and be motivated. However,
too much stress can make us unproductive, unhappy and unsafe.
How to manage stress
• Learn to better manage your time and avoid last-minute deadline pressures or work overload.
• Tackle first things first. Learn to complete your work in order of priority — doing the most important task first
and saving the least important for last.
• Talk things over with somebody you trust. This can help you let off steam and come up with effective solutions.
• Learn to focus on solutions rather than problems. Instead of just complaining about what is wrong, try to find
ways to fix it.
• Apply some specific stress-reduction skills. Many people find relief from stress by practicing techniques such as
deep breathing, progressive relaxation or even meditation.
• Get regular exercise. This is a great stress reliever that helps you fight stress in two ways. First, exercise is
relaxing and it gets your mind off your worries. Second, being physically fit can help you to handle stressful
events better.
• Eat regular, balanced meals. You’ll feel better and improve your health. Don’t overdo the caffeine because it
can increase nervousness.
• Get enough sleep — seven to eight hours a night — and take time to relax each day.
• Develop some interests outside of work. Spend some time on a hobby or recreational activity each day — even
if you have only 15 minutes to spare.
What does all this have to do with safety? Everything! Learning to manage stress can help you concentrate on
doing your job safely and prevent incidents and injuries. Remember that being under stress can significantly
increase the likelihood of you having an incident on or off the job