Maintaining a Healthy Work Environment in Stressful and Uncertain Times

By Mary Jo Kreitzer Ph.D., R.N., FAAN, and Joanne Disch Ph.D., R.N. FAAN

The current economic crisis is creating a tidal wave of stress and uncertainty. Within organizations, budget cuts may mean reducing staff, reorganizing work, or eliminating programs, products, or services. In people’s personal lives, there are fewer dollars to pay for food, health care, and other expenses. For people approaching retirement, there is fear and anxiety as they look at their dwindling retirement accounts.

People react to stress and uncertainty in different ways. For most, high levels of stress and chronic stress can adversely impact personal health and well-being by eroding quality of life and productivity in organizations. Stress can also provoke us to act in uncustomary ways.

To maintain a healthy balance and work environment between work and your personal life during these tough economic times, consider the following strategies:

Acknowledge the reality of the environment. As difficult as it may be, face up to the facts and learn as much as you can about impending changes. If you are a leader, communicate in a proactive, transparent, and timely manner.

Become aware of how you deal with stress. We respond to stress in different ways, but it is common for people to be reactive, fearful, angry, discouraged, and threatened. An interaction with a colleague, e-mail, or meeting can trigger a reactive response that we may later regret. Breathe and take time to thoughtfully and consciously respond.

Don’t succumb to being a victim. Most change that occurs is beyond any one person’s control. It’s easy (and unproductive) to point fingers and find blame. Instead, focus on what is within your sphere of control and influence – even if it is only in how you choose to respond to what is happening in your environment. Be proactive – consider what you can do rather than dwell on what you cannot change. Keeping informed is a healthy step to take. Avoid unproductive hallway conversations that foster negativity and fuel rumors.

Learn new skills, including how to manage and reduce stress. During times of organizational change and transition, take stock of your skills and abilities and identify other ways in which they may be useful to the organization. Be flexible with assignments. Take advantage of any programs or resources that your organization offers, such as new skill trainings and stress reduction programs.

Make sure to build time in for yourself and your family or friends. While facing these uncertain times, setting aside time to spend with family or friends, or doing something special for yourself, are important personal survival strategies. They don’t have to be long periods of time – maybe an hour for a walk, or coffee with a friend.

Mary Jo Kreitzer, Ph.D., R.N., FAAN, is founder and director of the Center for Spirituality and Healing at the University of Minnesota. Joanne Disch, Ph.D., R.N., FAAN, is the director of the Katherine J. Densford International Center for Nursing Leadership. This column is an educational service and advice presented should not take the place of an examination by a health-care professional. For more health-related information, go to http://www.ahc.umn.edu/healthtalk.