How to Manage Stress in Engineering
Posted May 28th, 2015
Stress is a part of any job, but engineers suffer through more than their fair share of it. Long hours, tight deadlines, and unrealistic demands lead many engineers to feel overwhelmed. And if the issue doesn’t get resolved, it can affect personal relationships, lead to career burnout, and compromise your professional future. If you are beginning to feel the damaging effects of stress, fall back on the strategies listed below.
Act, Instead of React
Stress is often a response to situations that you feel are out of your control. But in most places, and especially at work, no situation is completely in your control. Acknowledge this fact and focus on the things that can change, and the impact of everything else will feel much smaller.
Breathe Deeply
It can seem trite, but simply taking a minute or two to breathe deeply and direct your focus internally can have a powerful effect on your mental and physically well-being. This is also a quick, unobtrusive strategy that you can use just about anywhere in the office.
Eliminate Interruptions
A workday can seem like an endless series of phone calls, emails, instant messages, and texts – none of which have anything to do what you actually need to get done. Recognize these interruptions for what they are, and cut out as many of them as possible.
Pace Yourself
One of the things that leads to stress in the workplace is the mistaken idea that every moment has to be as productive as possible. This approach is like sprinting though a marathon. If you think of the workday as eight hours rather than a series of unfinished assignments, you will find it much easier to stay productive and keep your mood positive.
Be Healthy
Physical health and mental health are closely linked. If you are eating poorly, avoiding exercise, and not getting enough sleep at night, it will eventually affect your mood at work. Tell yourself that you will be a better employee, and a better engineer, if you take some time to focus on your health.
Be Objective
It is too easy to stew over a minor source of stress and blow it up into a major source. You can often diffuse a bad situation by simply being honest about what happened, what role you played, and what the actual consequences will be.
Prioritize
Trying to do everything at once usually leads to nothing getting done and you feeling stressed and deflated. Throughout your workday, prioritize the most important tasks and set everything else aside. You will be surprised how quickly you work through your to-do list.
Bayside Solutions can help you get more out of your engineering career, from satisfaction to salary. Contact us to speak to a representative.
