Why Do Some Occupations and Jobs Cause Stress?

For lots of us the job we do is often one of the largest causes of stress in our lives - this is known as occupational stress.

There are many reasons why your job can cause you stress, including the obvious - you're just in the wrong type of job for your personality. Being unable to cope with the day to day needs of your job can easily lead to acute stress levels building up. Equally (and maybe surprisingly) so can being bored with your occupation and finding it all too easy.

On this page we'll run through many of the things that cause occupational stress, some are obvious while others may surprise you.

Identifying the causes of your stress is the first, and most important step in self stress management. Without identifying where the stress in your life is stemming from, you'll never be able to take the proper steps to control it. So, read through this list of possible causes of occupational stress and note down the things that you think apply to you, even if you think you can't do anything about them.

Stress Management is not something someone else does for you, it's up to you to identify potential stressful factors in your working day and then do something practical to overcome them.

New technology

Technology was supposed to shorten our working week and give us more leisure time, but the reverse seems to be happening, we're all working longer hours and spending less time on family & leisure activities. Rapid changes in your working environment and working practices often lead to increased stress levels. Many people in many different types of jobs and occupations are finding themselves struggling to keep up with the pace of change of modern technology.

Now days, workers often feel like they are just part of the machine, rather than individuals. More people than ever before work alone or in isolation from their colleagues.

Shift Work

This is a prime source of occupational stress. It upsets your normal body clock and can interrupt your sleep patterns - this in turn will make you tired, irritable and eventually lead to stress.

Deadlines

Jobs with constant deadlines are another potential source of occupational stress. Time pressures and urgent deadlines nearly always lead to job stress. This effect is doubled if you are prone to setting yourself unrealistic goals and deadlines.

Longer Working Hours.

If you work too many hours in a week you become unproductive and tiredness & stress sets in. Not getting enough proper sleep is a major cause of stress, a good nights sleep is essential.

Commuting to Work.

Driving used to be fun but in the last 10-15 years it's become on of the most stress things you can do, especially at rush hour and in cities. We tend to work further away from home that we used to, and the travel to and from the workplace is often very stressful on today's congested roads & railways. This commute also greatly extends to working day, lessening the time available for non work activities. Commuting is often one of the most stressful parts of the working day, causing you to arrive at work with the wrong frame of mind and stopping you from concentrating properly.

If the daily commute to work is a main cause of your occupational stress then try to do something practical about the problem, this may not be easy to achieve but here are few ideas to get you started.
Is it possible to vary you means of transport & route - boredom is stressful. A slightly longer route avoiding jams might help.
Make sure you've got your favorite music with you - music therapy works.
Is there anyone you can car share with? Traveling with a friend will help pass the time and help stop road rage type stress.
If all else fails - can you relocate? Move nearer to the workplace or find a job nearer to home.

Working Conditions.

Working in unhealthy conditions will contribute to increased stress levels. Noisy or overly hot, cramped or cluttered, excessively busy places or air conditioned windowless offices - all contribute to occupational stress.

Having no real interest in your job

Working in a job just for the money, this leads to a lack of self value & lack of fulfillment. Most people don't realise just how stressful this can be and they underestimate the long term effects it can have on their health.

Boredom

Doing a repetitive mundane job that has a lack of variety also lead slowly to high occupational stress levels.

Work Colleges

Working with people that you don't like and don't 'get on with' can be a huge source of occupational stress. Spending many hours each day with people you hate can be very bad for your long term health, especially if you get angry or resentful regularly.

Job Security

Gone are the days of a 'job for life'. The threat of losing a job makes life generally very stressful. Worker also put up with more hassles just to keep a job. Changing occupations is far more common now days - this can be one of the most stressful times in a persons life.

Being a Boss

Being unpopular with the workers and making difficult, often conflicting, decisions, plus having to demote people. All very stressful. Being in change of people is often one of the most stressful types of jobs.

Whatever the main reasons for the stress in your working life, the first step in effective stress management is to identify the main causes. Once you've done this you can then start to find practical, workable solutions to lower long term dangerous stress. See the Stress Relief/Management page for more help. There's also lots of great Stress Management ideas within the articles pages.