You should not accept negative stress as something you have to live with. Physiologically, your body cannot sustain the ‘fight or flight’ response that involves increased release of certain hormones. Long periods of stress reduce your ability to function efficiently. It is essential to realise that you deserve better and then take the necessary steps towards leading a happier life.

Tie up any loose ends and try not to leave unfinished business to clutter your desk.

Discuss any conflicting issues that may be playing on your mind. Only by attacking and dealing with problems can you overcome the anxiety they cause.

Don’t try to do everything at once, tackle each issue one at a time.

Use lists, checking jobs off as you do them will improve your feelings of control and reduce stress levels, but remember to to write your list before you leave work. Then you can truly leave work behind.

Try to see the funny side of things and use humour to diffuse stressful situations.

Use future perspective. In 5, 10 or 20 years, how important will all this seem?

There are many different mental and physical indicators, such as:
Irritability
Depression
Reduced self esteem
Anxiety
Impatience
Difficulty relaxing
Sleep disturbance
Difficulty concentrating
Recurrent fatigue
Headaches
Irritable bowl syndrome
Recurrent ‘viral illnesses’
Increase in eating, drinking or smoking
Increased caffeine consumption

Lack of control
Interpersonal conflict
Traumatic events
Bereavement
Illness or injury
Environmental factors
Financial issues
Uncertainty or change
Poor communication
Role ambiguity or conflicting demands
Deadlines
Work overload
Doing things we do not wish to do

Stress is defined as a temporary imbalance in a person’s emotional state and behaviour. It usually occurs when the various presures in life exceed your ability to cope. The level of stress experienced will depend on an individual’s perception of different situations, as well as by the ways they try to deal with it - their coping strategies.