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Many of us spend at least a third of our days at one and sometimes two jobs to help provide for ourselves and our families. That work might be behind a desk, outside at a worksite, among co-workers, or in solitude. Your attitude toward your work may vary from day to day, and range from loathing it to absolutely adoring it. Whatever we feel about it, work is a fixed reality in our lives, which is why workplace stress can be tough to deal with. Work, even the enjoyable kind, can be difficult, and it takes its toll on our bodies and minds. The ability to handle the effects of work, especially the stress of work, is an important part of any worker’s life and could help retain productivity and avoid the negative effects of chronic stress. Workplace stress: What it is, and what it does to you The word “stress” refers to how our bodies naturally respond physically and emotionally to something that is a perceived threat or challenge. Our stress response, also called the “fight or flight” response, helps our bodies and minds prepare for action when we are in a difficult or dangerous situation. The body’s fight or flight response is activated during a stressful event, triggering the release of hormones like adrenaline and cortisol which prepares us to either confront a threat or flee from it. The situations that can bring stress include facing financial pressures, relationship issues, experiencing significant life changes like getting married or moving, managing health problems, and work pressures such as deadlines. As you can imagine, cortisol and adrenaline affect organs such as your heart, and it can have other physiological effects. When you’re feeling stressed, you can experience digestive issues, difficulty sleeping, anxiety or being overwhelmed, exhaustion or fatigue, irritability [...]