How to Reduce Work Frustrations

Work frustrations can affect every aspect of your life. They interfere with your ability to enjoy your job as well as your evenings and weekends. Upset stomachs, insomnia and fatigue are just a few of the problems that can develop. Your work frustrations can also be hard on those around you because they'll have to deal with your anger or depression. Here are some steps to help with work frustrations.

Instructions

1. Negotiate or renegotiate your job description. Sit down with your supervisor and decide what your duties are and what is expected of you. Let him or her know if you're asked to do something that doesn't fall within your job description and don't take on work that isn't yours to do.

2. Stop worrying about what your coworkers are doing. Concentrate on doing your own job well and let others do theirs. Stop trying to pick up everyone else's slack or to try to outdo someone's performance.

3. Rethink your attitude and performance. Ask yourself if you are your biggest problem at work. Are you always late? Do you spend too much time visiting with coworkers? Are you always complaining?

4. Learn to reduce your stress. Ask your supervisor for an opportunity to take a stress management class or see if your local healthcare organizations teach stress reduction. You may be able to take advantage of your Employee Assistance Program for help.

5. Avoid drama. Don't take sides in disputes between coworkers or allow yourself to become the person everyone comes to with their complaints and personal problems.

6. Balance your work with the rest of your life. Work to live, don't live to work. Instead of bringing work home, bring photos of your family, friends or pets to work to remind yourself of what's most important.

7. Consider the possibility that you're in the wrong job. Ask to be reassigned or quit altogether and get a job you're better suited for and that you like more.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Learn the dangers of too much stress by reading the article published in Farleigh Dickinson University Magazine.