Juggling competing workplace demands along with personal and family responsibilities can be overwhelming for employees, often leading to increased stress. In fact, studies show nearly 80 percent of Americans report feeling stressed, which is taking a toll on physical and mental health.
Stress triggers a physiological response and prompts the release of stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol. While adrenaline initiates the ‘fight or flight’ response mechanism, cortisol is harder to recognize and a culprit behind long-term health issues such as heart disease, obesity and sleep disturbance. Sustained cortisol levels can also trigger migraines and suppress the immune system.
In addition to physical health effects, stress can have workplace repercussions, including reduced focus and motivation.
Dave Muzina, MD, vice president and senior medical director at Medical Mutual, emphasizes that, at the workplace, foundational needs must be met for employees to be relatively free from stress.
“Workplace motivation, autonomy and creativity can be achieved only after fulfilling baseline and progressive needs, such as reasonable compensation, workplace safety, a sense of belonging and employee recognition,” says Muzina. “Creating an environment that addresses these needs sets employees up for lowered stress and greater achievement.”
Stress is a natural response to certain situations, but managing stress is imperative for overall well-being. Health insurance plans recognize this and are offering stress management tools as part of wellness programs. These tools include telephone and online coaching and self-help materials intended to educate employees about stress, and help them identify ways to productively channel stress.
Cindy Ballog, manager of health promotion and wellness at Medical Mutual, says, “At its core, stress is intended to enhance the body to respond in an optimal way, be it increased mental clarity or physical performance.”
One recent area of focus in the field of stress management is mindfulness — the process of being present and cognizant of current situations and thoughts — which is proven to improve psychological health by improving satisfaction and emotional regulation.
“Practicing mindfulness in ways like meditation or focused breathing can build resiliency to stress,” Ballog adds.
Muzina offers additional tips for employees looking to mitigate stress. These approaches include incentivizing performance to give employees greater control over their output and results; discouraging multitasking as it drains energy and causes distractions; and incorporating breaks throughout the day to refocus.
Finally, employees may need to look no further than colleagues to alleviate stress.
“When we help others, our brain releases the hormone oxytocin, which is proven to reduce stress and anxiety, and build a sense of trust and happiness,” says Muzina. “Plus, lending a hand to a colleague in need will likely be welcomed, further boosting team morale and productivity.”