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Counteract Financial Stress at Work

posted by TrueNorth Financial Strategies on Monday, June 27, 2016

Unsure of your job security?  If so, you’re not alone. In an uncertain economy, many employers have had to thin their work force due to budget constraints.  While feeling stressed is a perfectly normal reaction to this uncertainty, letting the things you cannot fully control bother you will only make you less productive and more vulnerable to losing your job. The one thing to remember: you have a chance to make a positive impact at work and increase your chances of keeping your job every day, even when others may be vulnerable.

Career Survival Tips

• Create small successes for yourself on a daily basis. These may be as insignificant as going to the gym after work or getting ahead on a project. When you feel a lot of negativity around you, these actions will make you feel triumphant. 
• Set one- and two-month goals, and share them with your boss. As you achieve them, let your superior know so he or she is aware of how you are contributing to the organization. 
• Offer to take on new projects and cross-train into other positions. This will help you avoid being pigeonholed in your current position. 
• Maintain a good working relationship with your superior by asking what you can do to improve, what tasks you can take on and how you can further benefit the company. 
• Try to maintain a positive attitude and do not complain about frivolous things at work (i.e. temperature, the broken fax machine, etc.)
• Maintain a network of contacts and make a point to connect with them periodically. Build relationships with people in the company that you normally do not have much contact with. This will enable you to have some allies on your side if the going gets tough. 
• Update your skills by taking a course, reading trade publications or learning from your co-workers. Develop transferable skills that would be applicable to other positions as well, such as effective managing, budgeting, etc. 
• Look at your finances and start saving in the event that you do lose your job. You should have at least six months' worth of expenses saved in the bank. 
• Avoid talking negatively about others at work; you want to project a positive, cooperative attitude. 
• Take care of yourself by eating right, exercising and getting plenty of sleep.  Also take time away from work to engage in activities that you love and that make you happy. 

The TrueNorth Financial Strategies Team is Here to Help

For more information and financial guidance, please call TrueNorth at 1-800-798-4080.  Our financial advisers would be happy to schedule a consultation with you and your loved ones to make sure the things that matter most are protected and accounted for.