STRESS IS A REGULAR part of most adults’ working lives, and in some cases it’s even a useful motivator, helping us to focus and work more effectively toward deadlines and goals.
When badly managed though, stress can do the opposite, resulting in anxiety, burn-out and lack of concentration. In fact, unhappy employees are proven to be ten per cent less productive, which explains why many companies now use psychosocial tools like WorkPositiveCI to help identify ways to improve their employees’ overall wellbeing.
So, on an individual level, what’s the best way to stay on top of things when you feel that fight-or-flight response kicking in? To figure it out, we spoke to five people working in typically high-pressure environments, from emergency rooms to TV studios. Here’s what they had to say…
Alex O’Shea, firefighter
I work full-time with Cork Fire Brigade. We’re trained to deal with multiple scenarios from fire or road traffic collisions to medical incidents, river rescues, and removal of hazardous materials. There are times when I hit a ten on the stress scale. Adrenaline will be flowing on the way to the call, with lights and sirens going and various thoughts going through your head. When it’s a big job the truck will generally be quiet as everyone mentally prepares. You never truly know what you might find until you get there, but once you’re at the scene there’s no time to be stressed.
It helps that as colleagues we have a close working bond. All our training prepares us to work together in stressful situations, and that’s where our strength lies. After a busy night shift I’ll often be found out for a run. It’s something I love to do, and it helps to declutter my mind. In my role, I am in a privileged position that I get to help people, and one of the biggest stress relievers is simply knowing I have made a difference.
Audrey, junior doctor
My job varies in stress levels depending on the department I’m working in. As you would expect, the emergency department is up there with the most stressful. Everyone you deal with in ED is having the worst day of their lives, and my job involves a lot of snap decisions as I try to get patients into the right pathways of care. Night shifts are the toughest because there’s no time for sleep and fewer people on staff.
The sheer volume of work means you’re never really on top of things in ED. There could be 25 people already waiting to be seen when your shift starts, some of whom have been there for hours. There have definitely been times when I’ve cried at work, but my co-workers are a massive support. When I get overwhelmed it helps to focus on one problem first rather than trying to juggle loads of things. I get one task done properly, and move on.
Liz, teacher
My day has a lot of plates for me to spin. I am a secondary teacher and head of my school’s Geography department too, so I’m in from 7.30am and could be in work until after 6pm. Teaching a room of 13-year-olds isn’t easy as you’re constantly ‘on’. When you have 30 kids ignoring you, you want to pull your hair out.
Interestingly though, the kids are the least stressful part of the job. I often bring my work home with me, marking work while my partner cooks dinner, or tossing and turning in bed about an upcoming lesson or inspection. I struggle to let things go, but one thing that helps is going to the gym twice a week. This year I enforced time in my diary and I haven’t wavered. In the classroom, I know getting frustrated would only make a tricky situation worse, so I don’t tend to get too worked up.
Patrick Kavanagh, TV producer
I’m a producer on TV3′s Xposé, which airs three times a week and up until recently aired daily. As well as managing crew schedules, script-writing, VT editing, and coordinating foreign trips, a producer is the ‘voice in the presenter’s head’ from the gallery as the show goes to air.
There are a lot of moving parts in television production and we’re often up against it, editing content minutes before it’s due to air. I think most of my co-workers would agree that I usually keep a cool head. I’d rather get stuck in and solve an issue than freak out or snap at someone. Also, I use my long commute to listen to podcasts or watch an episode of something, which helps me to switch off… and explains why I keep putting off learning to drive.
Orla, brand communications lead
I head up a busy PR team in a Dublin-based communications agency. There’s no normal day for me in the office, and while my stress level feels like a 12 at times, it usually sits somewhere around a seven. The nature of an agency role means you could have a number of requests that have the same or similar deadlines, so it’s a fine line between managing expectations and getting the job done.
I do find it hard to switch off, because I love what I do. From the moment I wake up, I’m thinking about what the day ahead has in store, and I know I need to work on not over-analysing situations that haven’t even happened yet. A few years ago I started morning spin classes, which generally offset stressful thoughts about work. I’m also fortunate to work with an incredibly capable team, meaning there’s usually someone around to offer insight or a helping hand no matter what the ask.
Safe and healthy working environments lead directly to improved business performance. WorkPositiveCI is a free and confidential psychosocial risk management tool that helps organisations identify ways to improve employee wellbeing. Visit workpositive.ie for more information.
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