How to deal with stress at work is more complicated than we might think. Usually we “just endure” the stress at work. Endurance is an important quality to develop. However, if that is the only tool in the tool box we could exhaust our body as well as our spirit.
This is one reason why we see so many people with anxiety- depression, the anxiety to keep up and not screw up can deplete our energy and interest in our daily work.
Therefore, we need a bigger view of stress so we have other tools besides enduring the tedium. This view can come from meditation in activity and a simple psychological understanding of people in groups.
Meditation in Activity 
Meditation provides two important abilities in life: A sensitive awareness of what is happening within and without and the ability to stay with the present.
Stress and fatigue are part of daily work but the stress and fatigue that comes from boredom, anxiety, mental rumination on random stuff, avoidance, and dissociation is the stress that we can work with through meditation.
The first main practice is awareness of the “comings and goings” of the inner world. We can begin by naming the feelings as they pass through our body and mind during the day. As we watch the various feelings pass through we can name them with one word to ourselves: rushing, frustrated, calm, excited, anxious, guilty, proud, and so forth. It is also a practice of leaving out judgement and analysis, just naming feelings.
From this practice there is an awareness of the changing flow of feelings and thoughts throughout the day. This provides a feeling of stability because we are taking out the unnecessary stress of resisting our own naturally changing states of mind. We are accepting our inner life little by little. As it is. This practice prevents build up of stress.
We practice not fighting the river, so much. This attitude can then extend to outer changes. Gradually, we can experience outer changes with a little more grace because everything isn’t such a big deal.
The second practice is attempting to keep the mind on one thing at a time. There can be an over all direction or a completion time in the future but focus on one thing at a time. The feeling of the breath along with what we are working on can be very helpful to stay as relaxed as possible from one moment to the next. This is impossible sometimes but what else can we do but relax just a little.
For example, I can be aware of the feelings that come up as I write this paragraph. I can even pause a second and feel some anxiety move through. I can also feel my breath and I can type each letter on the keyboard without the pressure of “more, faster” but just type. When I realize I have spaced out and gone up in my head, I can notice where I was and bring it back to what I am working on. I return to the body, breath and mind. This is meditation in activity; returning to the present and relaxing into it.
Meditation also provides the stability to look at the psychological play that is going on with the stress at work or the stress in our homes. As we become more aware of what is coming up inside without analysis, we can then begin to analyze it because we have more objectivity about ourselves and outer situations. Usually we observe and feel, then analyze.
For example, I need to experience what I am feeling, so I am able to know what I need. So I can figure out how I might take care of myself and those around me. I may need to arrange my life differently when the stress is too much. This way I have a clearer direction in life.
What is Important to Me? 
Let’s look at a quote from Albert Einstein:
“Try not to become a man of success. Rather become a man of value.”
Commonly, each person and each culture has their ideas of success. Our ideas of success change as we pay attention to what is important to us. At one point it is important to work many hours because we value learning and the challenge that comes with it. Then we might value more time for relationships and family. And latter in life we may value a career change and so on.
Having money to pay the bills and a position that is meaningful is extremely important. There is no “value” in demeaning the need for some financial stability and a position in the culture that has some respect.
However, when our “values” gets lost; that is where work stress and feeling overworked and under paid take over. There is no direction, no meaning, just adaptation, “hang in there” and make money. This is depression.
Work Stress in Groups 
When we feel excessive stress with people, that is the time to analyze what is going on.
For example, “My boss is a bully one minute and then next he/she disappears. Part of me wants to quit this job and another part wants to stay because it does have other good qualities. I like a lot of the people and the pay is fine, for now.”
Here we have frustration and helplessness with the boss and fear of leaving a known situation for an unknown situation. This work stress needs to be evaluated. What is this about? How much is my stuff? How much is just the over-all dynamic of the job? What am I ignoring?
As we better understand how family dynamics get played out at work, we can reduce a common stress that usually doesn’t get talked about.
Some jobs have supervisors, bosses, or CEO’s that are like having good parents. They watch out for us. They are kind and fair. They know how to give direction without blaming too much. They pay a fair wage. Employers like this know how to manage the various stresses of interpersonal problems within the company and the need of employees to have a life.
We also have supervisors that do just the opposite. The negative emotional environment is about “getting it done”, “do what I tell you to do”. It is just about adapting to whatever is asked for by the parent/boss.
Then we also have the absent parent/boss that doesn’t give directions but expects you to know it all without any leadership or training. They are like the parents that want you to grow up without ever showing you how to grow up.
We could describe many, many scenarios but most importantly: What family of origin issues are getting activated for you? Maybe none but this stress runs deep if it is in play.
For example, if I can notice that my boss triggers certain mother or father feelings, I can then separate my boss from my parent. It makes working with them much easier. And I can see the boss for who they are and not project unnecessary family stuff that is mine and not really theirs. It makes life easier.
The reason I bring this up is because so often people are still trying to please parents or act out unresolved anger with supervisors and fellow employees. We may think we are over it but we are sensitive to certain situations from the past that get activated in the present and taint the relationship. Just because we repress something doesn’t mean it is not there.
Therefore, mediation in activity provides the calmness and the clarity we need to recognize the stress. We may eliminate the stress by adjusting our attitude and behavior toward it.
For example, we can breath in a difficult feeling to accept it, then let it go on the exhalation.
Sometimes we need to change our work environment and other times just slowing down and taking life one moment at a time is enough. In fact it is everything.
More on meditation
More on stress
