Stress Management Techniques for Men in High-Pressure Work Environments

High-pressure situations are challenging, especially at work. It can cause the strongest of men to break down. Take the story of the Challenger Space Shuttle disaster in 1986. I’ve heard this story thousands of times, sometimes from motivational speakers, other times from friends and family. Seems the story has many lessons. So, I’ll share one of my own!

On January 28, 1986, the Challenger came apart. It happened just 73 seconds into its flight…horrible; even the Titanic managed to sail 4 days before disaster hit. When the Challenger broke apart, it resulted in the tragic deaths of all seven team members. The disaster was caused by the failure of something called an O-ring seal on one of the shuttle’s solid rocket boosters.

Now, here comes the bad part. Before the launch, engineers at Morton Thiokol, the contractor responsible for the shuttle’s solid rocket boosters, had expressed concerns about the O-rings’ susceptibility to failure in cold weather conditions.

In fact, one engineer, Roger Boisjoly, greatly opposed the decision to launch and warned of the potentially catastrophic consequences. Boisjoly and his colleagues even shared their research concerns before the launch.

However, under pressure to meet tight launch schedules and facing intense political and public scrutiny, managers at NASA and Morton Thiokol decided to proceed with the launch despite these concerns. And it became one of the most tragic disasters in history.

So what’s my lesson?

High-pressure situations are horrible and can lead to disaster, especially at work! Situations at work can affect your judgment and lead to catastrophic consequences. Sure, chances are low that you will cause one of the most tragic events in history, but it is not impossible!

Therefore, you need to find ways to manage yourself in such situations.

So, is Your Job a High-Pressure Situation?

Maybe. Most men can tell when they are under high pressure at work. Others, on the other hand, think they are struggling to manage when the truth is that it is difficult to manage.

So, what does a high-pressure situation at work look like?

Sleeping Struggles

I am not sure if this happens to anyone else, but when I am stressed, I get nightmares. But not your typical teeth falling out or waking up naked at work.

Nope, I recount all the tasks I have and have not done for work. It replays in my head repeatedly, making me toss and turn endlessly. If you ask me, it is worse than the teeth falling out thing.

If you are having trouble sleeping because of work, you may feel pressured there. By the time I get to work, I am tired.

Sometimes, I go to work late because my body tries to compensate for a night of insomnia with a morning siesta. Chances are it will happen to you, too.

You’re Sick When You Shouldn’t Be

Ever had a cold in the summer? People look at you weird because who gets a cold in the summer?

While you could catch a disease in several ways in unusual circumstances, do not rule out high-pressure situations at work.

Why?

When you are stressed at work, your immune system becomes weak. Your body focuses on helping you get things done, meaning it lacks the energy to protect itself.

The result? Well, you could get sick from just about anything. Some people get a cold; others contract pinkeye. Some even get the rumbles with diarrhea or severe constipation.

Either way, you will feel unwell physically.

Procrastination

I wish I could go back and tell my middle school teachers that procrastination was not a sign of laziness. It would have gotten me out of trouble… or landed me more.

You have probably found yourself there a hundred times. You have so much to do, but it overwhelms you. So you take a nap.

Or even more common, you start focusing on something completely different, like building a birdhouse. For the computer users, your research goes on hold while you watch those two guys build a mansion in the jungle, wondering how dirt could be so sturdy. I know I have.

Procrastination is a sign of anxiety. Sometimes, when you are stressed, you freeze instead of moving, like a rabbit caught in headlights. It is normal.

So, if you are in a work environment with so much to do, yet you cannot find it in yourself to get it done, check the mirror for bunny ears.

Your Work Quality is Bad

If you manage to get something done, kudos! But wait, something is a miss. When you check out your work quality, you can’t just help but hate it.

And not the kind of self-loathing that stems from anxiety. No, this is of a truly lower quality than what you have done before.

Your boss suddenly notices all the mistakes, and you’re getting negative feedback. Even if you don’t like it. But it is not your fault.

When you feel pressured at work, it does not always bring out your A-game. Some people thrive in such situations, while others struggle to manage.

Tip: You should never put yourself down for underperforming in high-pressure work environments, even when your coworkers thrive. Because it is the same water that softens the potato and hardens the egg.

Stress Management Techniques to Keep You Grounded at Work

Fellas, I understand your need to stand firm in adversity. Yes, it is a great thing to be strong. But sometimes, you cannot do it just out of commanding yourself to be strong.

No, you need help. Subtle but effective help.

So, if you want a way to manage yourself when faced with a high-pressure workplace, consider the following.

Know

You Should Focus On The Now

Most times, when we feel pressured, it’s because we think about the thousands of things that need to be done quickly.

It is overwhelming. Some people even get panic attacks. A completely understandable reaction to a difficult situation.

But getting in your head may only make things worse. You will struggle to get things done in the real world. So when you are in such a situation, fight back the overthinking and focus on the present.

I like to fill my mind with song lyrics so it does not wander. It can be a little distracting but not as bad as overthinking myself into a freeze situation.

Multitasking, It’s A Myth

Multitasking is a myth, so stop trying to do it. The brain was not built to do two things at the same time. Especially not work things.

However, it is something employers have marketed as a good quality of an employee. So you feel pressured to do two things at the same time to get things done faster.

But what you are really doing is switching between tasks. It wastes so much time!

Instead, you need to focus on doing one thing and one thing alone. Give it your total concentration, and you will notice better quality work.

Do Now

Set Boundaries And Respect Them

Men struggle with boundaries– in relationships, with friends, with love interests, and even with work. But it is time to break the cycle and set some boundaries!

A good man works hard but also knows when it is time to stop. So when it is time to get off work, clock out and leave it all at the office.

Allocate time for hobbies, fun, and socializing. Respect them. Add non-work activities to your calendars and honor them as you would work meetings.

By doing this, you give yourself the right break. You balance your work and life. And you reduce the chances of burnout for a healthy mind and body.

For Long Term Results

Exercise

It seems pretty obvious, but you should be exercising. Putting your body through healthy physical stress is a good way to manage stress in high-pressure work environments.

Exercise releases endorphins in the body which give you that feel-good feeling. So you can tackle another work day with no sweat– at least not in the office.

In the long run, exercise helps combat the physical effects of stress. Men are more prone to cardiac diseases and other conditions that stress triggers. However, long-term exercising keeps your heart healthy and improves wellness in the long run.

So if you enjoy running, run. If you want to try Tai Chi, do it. If you swim, be sure to put on sunscreen. Just make sure you are moving.

Withstanding Pressure Without Hurting Yourself is The Goal

In conclusion, navigating high-pressure work environments is all about managing your stress. By using these techniques, you will be in a better place to deal with deadlines breathing down your neck.

Your body and mind can only handle so much. Do not be hard on yourself about it. Instead, embrace this kind of help and give yourself a pat on the back after every day.

Just one step at a time, and you will smile in the face of pressure.