Workplace Stress: The Silent Killer of Performance (and Peace of Mind)

Workplace stress is not just a “bad day at the office.” It is a creeping, often invisible force that erodes productivity, damages health, and, if left unchecked, burns out even the most dedicated professionals.

According to the American Institute of Stress, 83% of U.S. workers suffer from work-related stress, and more than half say it impacts their personal lives. Stress is now one of the top drivers of employee turnover, absenteeism, and even physical illness.

But here’s the real kicker: much of this stress is not coming from the work itself—it’s coming from the way we approach it.

The Myth of “Push Through”

For years, I thought stress was the best motivator. Long hours, endless multitasking, and the belief that “I’ll rest when the job’s done” were part of my identity. I thought stress meant I was committed, driven, unstoppable.

The truth is, it nearly stopped me cold. Stress didn’t make me better, it made me bitter, distracted, and distant from the people who mattered most.

The Cost of Ignoring Workplace Stress

Unmanaged stress is not just uncomfortable, it can be destructive to individuals, families, relationships and organizations.

• For individuals: It leads to anxiety, poor sleep, health issues, and broken relationships.

• For organizations: It destroys morale, increases errors, and makes talented employees quit.

  
  

In short, ignoring stress is bad for business and bad for people.

A Different Way Forward

The good news is stress does not have to define you. That is at the heart of my book, Unburdened – 5 Honest Lessons from a Recovering Stress Junkie. It is not another “self-help” checklist but some he raw, practical lessons I had to learn the hard way, lessons that can help you:

• Accept that it’s OK to not be OK.

• Recognize that multitasking is a myth.

• Separate your identity from your job.

• Protect the people you love from the fallout of your stress.

  
  

These are not quick fixes. They are honest truths, shared to help you shift your relationship with stress before it costs you more than you are willing to pay.

Final Thought

If workplace stress has you feeling stuck, burned out, or disconnected, you are not alone. and you do not have to stay there. Change is possible and it starts by rethinking the way you carry and relate to the stressors in your life and work.

Ready to take that first step? Grab your copy of Unburdened – 5 Honest Lessons from a Recovering Stress Junkie and start building a healthier, more sustainable way to work and life. Let us get unburdened together!