We’ve all had those moments: Stress is building up, your head is spinning and you blow up.
Plumbers are a varied group; there are business owners, longtime veterans, rookie plumbers and more in the ranks. There are plenty of stressors for everyone, and no one is above getting stressed out from time to time.
New plumbers worry about whether they are learning and how they’ll succeed. Business owners worry whether customers are being served properly and money is coming in. Even veteran plumbers have work stress.
Stress can cause anxiety, aches and pains, frequent sickness and many other health effects. What happens if you do start feeling stress levels rise at work? There are simple ways to ease stress before it escalates into something more.
Learn to Delegate
I know, this one can be tough for a lot of people — especially business owners. When you are tasked with managing other people, it can be easy to try and do everything and meet every demand yourself. You have to be realistic though and avoid overloading yourself.
Effective delegation requires you to map out what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, assign the work, confirm the employees understand the job and confirm the results will be delivered by a certain time.
Communication Must Be a Priority
I know this is a “tough guy” type of industry. Some of you may feel uncomfortable discussing the stresses you are facing, but getting help is the first step in finding relief.
If you feel like you have too much on your plate, you can’t keep up with what you have already or are having problems with a co-worker, reach out to your manager first. If you are facing issues on a personal level, seek guidance from an expert or a trusted friend or family member.
When working in plumbing — or any construction-related field for that matter — it is easy to get stressed about the constant pressure of meeting deadlines, staying within budgets and meeting customer demands.
Working continuously under high amounts of stress can cause mental fatigue and burnout. If you let it, this industry can demand more than you are able to give.
Learn to take a break and recharge. It could be as simple as a scheduled lunch, short rest break, more sleep or scheduling that vacation you’ve been planning for the last decade.
Lay Back and Relax
These all seem like simple little things, but they will help you reduce stress and your chance of blowing up at a co-worker or family member who doesn’t deserve it.
What are ways you’ve learned to deal with the stress of the job? Let me know by emailing me at editor@plumbermag.com.
In the meantime, relax on the recliner and enjoy this issue!
