Stress: Its Nature and Management

OnLine Course Assignment

Work Place Stress

Purpose: The work place is a significant source of stress for most people. Stress arises from poor working conditions (overcrowding or noise), work overload, and relationships with peers, subordinates, and superiors (just to name a few stressors). The purpose of this assignment is to acquaint you with various workplace stressors, burnout, and strategies that can be effectively used to manage stress.

Assignment:This is a multi-part assignment designed to help you consolidate what you have learned about stress and its management.

  1. Reflect carefully on your future career. What specific stressors do you anticipate encountering that are unique to your career (e.g., if you are a performance major, such as a musician or an actor, you may encounter constant criticism of your work; if you are working in the areas of human service, you may be confronted with having to deal with an increasing number of clients with fewer and fewer resources). List and briefly describe five specific career-related stressors that you will encounter.
  2. Given the stressors that you identified in the first part of the assignment, list and briefly explain what can you do to eliminate or reduce these stressors. Be sure to incorporate specific strategies discussed in the text to address these problems.
  3. How can nutrition and exercise be used to help you be more stress resistant? Be sure to cite specific examples in your answer.
  4. Using the web, find a definition of burnout, information about its causes, and solutions to this increasing problem.
  5. Finally, what could your professional preparation program at Ithaca College do to more fully prepare you for the world of work and potential stressors?

This paper will be approximately 8 to 10 pages in length, double-spaced, with 1 1/2 inch margins. Be sure to use headings to help organize your paper.

Submission: Submit your work using CourseInfo Student Drop Box.

Dr. Deborah A. Wuest

Hill Center Room 31

Phone: 607-274-3108

This page is maintained by Dr. Deborah A. Wuest and was last updated on May 28, 2001.