As I study the topic of stress and learn some of its causes, I am repeatedly reminded that stress can cause illness and disease. I am also learning that there is an acceptable, even healthy, amount of day-to-day stress. In other words too much stress on a regular basis can cause us to become ill if we do not take action to counter it's effect upon us. However too little stress can also cause us to become ill. For instance if you have a dull, mundane, repetitive job which offers no new challenge, this can result in a lot of tension and stress that you are maybe not aware of. On the other hand you may have a job which presents new demands every day and the pressures go way beyond your ability to manage or accomplish what needs to be done. Multiple studies have shown that somewhere between these two extremes is a healthy area.
If you have a job that is boring, dull and un-challenging, one thing you might do is to ask for some added responsibility. If you experience the other extreme, and it is within your power to do so, try delegating some of your tasks to others. Sometimes we can say no but are afraid of how that might be perceived. You aren't doing yourself or anyone else any favors if you cannot give your tasks the attention required, or leave tasks half completed.
One of the biggest causes of job stress is the inability or unwillingness of people to properly communicate thier needs, desires, and expectations.
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