54 •
The Lion King
• July - September 2017
Health
How to beat
stress at work
By Deoye Falade*
L
iving in Lagos or other major cities,
we start most mornings with traffic
on the way to our offices where
various meetings or responsibilities
await us. At the end of the day, we
head back to our homes through that
same traffic where we have to think
about home chores. The next day,
we repeat the same process. The end
result, if not properly managed is – you
guessed right – stress.
mental wellness but also your produc-
tivity.
That persistent headache
could be a sign of stress
Common effects of stress on the body
include:
Physical
• Headaches
• Muscle tension or pain
• Chest pain
• Fatigue
• Change in sex drive
• Stomach upset
• Sleep problems
Mental
• Anxiety
• Restlessness
• Lack of motivation or focus
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Irritability
• Depression
Behavioural
• Overeating or undereating
• Aggression
• Drug or alcohol abuse
• Tobacco use
• Social withdrawal
‘I’m so stressed!’
We get it, today’s workplace is often
a pressure cooker of tasks, meetings,
deadlines and priorities that can lead
to stress and anxiety. People seem
to pride themselves on saying how
stressed they are but we should also
pride ourselves in identifying the trig-
gers and how to manage it. If left
unchecked, stress will not only have
negative effects on your body and
Studies have found a correlation between
extreme stress and reduced productivity
among workers.
