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VetVine Client Care

Posted On Nov 18, 2015

Updated On Jun 25, 2025

How To Create Stress At Work

Wellness Wisdom

Originally contributed by Gwen Pettit, PT, PCC, MA, MS

What's a formula for creating stress at work?

  • Be in a hurry.
  • Rush past clients and colleagues - let them know, by your actions, that you don’t have time for questions or consultation.
  • Direct others and give out orders loudly.
  • Snap back at people who dare ask you for clarification (so they stop asking you for anything at all).
  • When you do get a cancellation and have an extra 15 minutes to yourself, continue to worry about your overbooked schedule and how exhausted you are. Don't use that time to return phone calls or catch up on paperwork - this might reduce stress, afterall.
  • When someone does ask you if you need help, ignore them or brush them off - because you needed help 2 hours ago before you got so far behind. At this point you might as well just finish what you started rather than explain to someone else what you need.


Does anything on that list sound familiar? Admittedly, I have done all of those things at one time or another. These were choices I made in how to respond to the situation at the time, and all that they did for me was to create more stress for myself and those who had to deal with me.

You can make choices - even on the very busiest days - on how you respond to stress. If you know, in advance, that your day is going to be full and overflowing, let others know what you will need before the day starts. Communicate up front and ask each person to mindful of their role in keeping the schedule moving smoothly.

Acknowledge the days that go smoothly. What contributed to that or made that happen?  Do more of those things going forward. If you pay attention to the things that work for you and do more of them, that will improve your work flow and systems. On days that seem to fall apart, debrief with the entire staff. Ask everyone for their perspective about what could be improved. 


You cannot ignore stress and just expect it to decrease on its own - that only allows it to persist. Pay close attention to what creates stress at work and how you contribute to it. Use that information to create positive change.


What have you found that decreases stress on the busy days for yourself or your staff? Please share one idea.