• Deal with stress before it builds up and deals with you.stress image by Mat Hayward from Fotolia.com
  
  Workplace stress has many sources and can creep up on you in subtle and overt ways. Different people react to stress in different ways. It pays to deal with stress as soon as you notice it. Paying attention and identifying stress in your workplace will help you take action and find relief. The following tips will make it easy for you to identify stress in yourself and your coworkers. Paying attention is the first step toward alleviating stress.
  
  

Short Temper

• A short temper means you have some stress to deal with.temper image by Lisa Eastman from Fotolia.com
  
  Every workplace comes with a fair share of annoyances, but most times these are easy to ignore, avoid, or laugh off. If you notice yourself snapping at your coworkers, getting agitated by the sound of the copy machine, or feeling frustrated with your stapler or computer, workplace stress might be creeping in. If you normally get along well with your coworkers and you find yourself getting easily upset by them, it could be a sign that your stress levels are getting out of hand. A short temper is a sign that stress is building up.
  
  

Inability to Focus

• Working eight hours straight requires a great deal of focus. Inability to focus is a sure sign of workplace stress. If you find yourself unable to focus on the tasks that you normally perform every day, stress might be getting the best of you. Forgetfulness, checking the time frequently, playing games, chatting instead of working, rearranging your desk, and pacing around the office are all signs that you might be experiencing too much stress. Pay attention to your level of focused attention each day to establish a baseline. This will help you to recognize when stress has impinged on your ability to focus.
  
  

Muscular Tension and Aches

• Take a few moments to feel your body. Tensions in your face, head, neck, shoulders, or upper back can be signs of long-term stress. Aches and pains in your neck muscles will arise to remind you that you are experiencing stress and not dealing with it. If the muscle aches tend to disappear when you get home from work or on the weekends, you can be sure they are a sign of workplace stress mounting. Normal aches and pains are a part of life, but when they start stealing your focus away from work, they are likely a physical manifestation of stress.
  
  

Excessive Complaining

• Pay attention to yourself and your coworkers for signs of stress.workplace image by Andrey Kiselev from Fotolia.com
  
  Complaining about tasks at work and then repeating the complaints to your family or friends at the end of the day is a symptom of workplace stress. Not enjoying your work can be a prime source of stress that will stay with you every day until you take action to deal with it. Complaining to your boss, coworkers, family, and friends can also create distance between you and them, which is another sign of stress in the workplace. Pay attention to what you choose to say and how other people react to you for signs of stress in the form of complaints.