Managing micro-stress can help to boost your mental health at work

By Aisling O'Toole

Over the last number of years conversation around the impact of workplace stress on our mental health has reached an all time high.

The positive impact of hybrid working on work life balance has been discussed at length, while companies offering genuine mental health support to employees have become the employers of choice for thousands of Gen Z workers.

However, there's a flip side. In this instance, that is micro-stressors––those insignificant disruptions that make you roll your eyes, exhale loudly or sigh quietly at your desk.

They don't derail your whole day, in fact they very seldom register on your bad day radar, and yet it's because of their seemingly insignificant nature that they are fast becoming the workplace's most insidious problem.

A new study has shown that dealing with dozens of micro-stresses on a daily basis is taking its toll on both our physical and mental health. The same research reveals our bodies can't differentiate between traditional and micro-stress, so the impact on health is the same.

In addition, because we don't acknowledge micro-stresses in the same way we do traditional stress, our bodies can overcompensate and create a "body budget", pulling the energy to deal with the problems from elsewhere, compounding the problem.

The obvious answer may be to manage micro-stress through self care, sleep and rest, but experts fear that this approach is counterproductive.

Studies show that this strategy will actually just expand the body's ability to tolerate higher numbers of micro-stresses, resulting in a higher impact on your everyday mental health.

Instead, the best way to manage it and improve your mental health is to slowly reduce the number of stressors in your day-to-day life, by eliminating them early.

Just Say No

Finding small, and professionally acceptable ways to push back on micro-stressors can help eliminate several of them at a time. If you find communication from one colleague disruptive and unnecessary, mute them until you can respond at a time suitable for you.

If you find your CEO panics as a deadline approaches, stay ahead of the micro-managing messages and micro-stressors by keeping them updated throughout the project.

Aim To Rise Above

Mel Robbins' "Let Them" theory revolves around the idea that we cannot control other people and we can only control our own reaction. So rather than try to solve a problem we sit back, let it happen––and then react to the outcome.
 
You'll "let them" do what they're going to do, and by adopting this rise above and observe approach, you can help to eliminate several micro-stressors from your daily life––especially in your collaboration space where you can only react to what's happening in front of you.

Eliminating micro-stresses from your life won't only improve the day-to-day in a positive way, but it will also free up space within your brain to pursue career opportunities that you previously didn't have capacity for. Be it a logical move to progress your career, or a more lateral move that will open up new avenues, managing your micro-stresses can help to make that leap seem possible.

The Financial Planning Job Board contains dozens of opportunities just waiting to be explored now that you have bandwidth. Three vacant roles are highlighted below…

Portfolio Finance Associate, Ramp Financial, New York
Founded in 2019, Ramp powers the fastest-growing corporate card and bill payment software in America and more than doubled its revenue run rate in the first half of 2022. It is now looking for a Portfolio Finance Associate to primarily focus on the company's portfolio and risk management efforts, working closely with the risk, product, and data/engineering teams. This is a high-impact position and represents a truly unique opportunity to join a four-year-old startup at a pivotal moment in its development. The ideal candidate will have a minimum three years' of experience in investment banking, management consulting, or corporate finance at a top-tier technology company. Find more information here.

Lead Financial Sector Specialist, World Bank Group, Washington DC
The World Bank is recruiting for a Lead Financial Sector Specialist to work from its Washington office on a four-year project across its Equitable Growth, Finance, and Institutions Practice Group. The role will collaborate across technical, geographic, and institutional boundaries to help design and deliver solutions across a diverse range of clients with a specific emphasis on payment systems and market infrastructures. The ideal candidate will have at least 12 years' of relevant professional experience, strong technical knowledge and experience as well as established intellectual leadership. Find more information here.

Tax Analyst, JMG Financial Group, Illinois
JMG Financial Group is one of the largest independently owned fee-based wealth management firms in the Chicago area providing wealth management services to corporate executives and high net worth individuals. JMG is now looking for a Tax Analyst to work with clients communicating complex tax issues while preparing entity and individual federal and state income tax returns, including all related analysis and support. The ideal candidate will have accounting knowledge and advanced knowledge of tax laws, procedures and requirements. Find more information about the role and how to apply here.

Browse the Financial Planning Job Board to find your perfect role