New place, new people, new responsibilities and processes; in the new job everything seems new and unsettling. It’s perfectly normal to feel nervous before your first day at a new job. We’ve all probably experienced this. Fortunately, these nerves can be controlled. How? The best way is to be prepared and stay calm.

Thanks to this, on the first day, no situation will surprise you and you will master the stress before a new job.

Stress is the body’s response to events that upset its balance, strain or exceed our ability to cope effectively. Stress can be motivating or depressing. Prolonged or exceptionally strong stress with a negative (demobilizing) vector has fatal consequences for human health and the functioning of his body.

The physical symptoms of stress are relatively easy to notice – the amount of sweat secreted increases, breathing becomes shallow, the heart rate speeds up, there are problems with concentration. We are also often accompanied by diarrhea, nausea or even vomiting. There may be a headache, dry mouth, sweating of the hands.

Stress, however, can bring many psychological symptoms that are not so easy to see with the naked eye. The most noticeable psychological symptom of stress is a lack of energy, lack of self-confidence, difficulties in establishing or maintaining social relationships. There may also be problems with compulsive overeating, mood swings or depression. Permanent stress does not allow us to focus on our activities, home or professional duties. In fact, it is difficult to talk about the symptoms of physical and mental stress in different contexts, because most often both are intertwined.

How to prepare and survive the first day in a new job without stress?

First of all, find out as much as you can about your company and position. On your first day at a new job, you should first of all look like someone who knows where they are. Read all the information about the employer on his website, also see the tab presenting employees. Try to figure out what are the most important needs and goals of your new company. It is also worth considering the questions you would like to ask your co-workers.

Another important issue is to prepare some of the most important information about yourself – probably new colleagues will want to get to know you, so it’s worth thinking about what you would like to tell them in advance. But remember not to brag – no one likes that. Tell about yourself when someone really wants to get to know you better.

Appropriate clothing is also important. Think about what you will wear on your first day at your new job. Remember to keep your clothes clean and elegant.

It is also important to ensure proper psychological comfort during a new job.

Be positive!

Treat your first day at a new job as a new challenge that will enrich you. Remember that your employer and co-workers know perfectly well that you may be stressed. They will probably try to make your first day as easy as possible.

Relax and get some sleep

The day before, relax – take a long bath, read, watch a movie or cook your favorite dish. Give your body and mind a rest. Also remember to get a good night’s sleep – thanks to this you will be full of energy the next day and you will absorb all the information faster. Remember that for most of us a better first impression is made by smiling, kind and well-groomed people.

Now that you know how to prepare for that first day, it’s time to focus on how to behave on your first day at work. Here are some rules to follow:

• Do not be late

Being late for work on the first day looks very bad. The day before, it is worth planning your journey to your company carefully. It is worth coming to work a little earlier, not at the last minute. This will allow you to avoid the additional stress associated with the occurrence of possible traffic difficulties. In this way, you will also immediately show that you respect the rules and other employees. Also, remember not to postpone your start date at the last minute.

• Be open and kind

Even if you feel very stressed, you should be smiling, open and kind to new colleagues. However, be careful not to make an artificial impression, do not try „too much”. Just be yourself. Remember that you do not have to make friends with people from your new job right away, but it is worth maintaining friendly relations that will definitely facilitate later work.

• Ask questions and don’t be afraid to ask for help

Feel free to ask questions. Listen carefully to the answers and note the most important information. If you need help – ask for it! Don’t pretend that you know, understand and can do everything. The employer understands perfectly well that many things may be unclear to you at the beginning. Always be grateful for help. Stress in a new job is understandable and it is even more worth writing down the most important information so that nothing significant escapes your attention under stress.

• Know exactly what your main tasks will be

On your first day at work, try to find out what your key tasks will be and what the employer requires of you. Try to establish the most important principles of cooperation. Be enthusiastic, but at the same time be assertive.

• Get to know the company’s rules

If it’s your first day at work, you should know what the rules are. Example things to know: What time do most people start and finish work? When are the weekly meetings held? How many people will your team consist of and who does it consist of? Thanks to this knowledge and fitting into the schedule, you will appear more organized and integrated with the group.

• Silence your phone

On your first day at a new job, it’s better to turn your phone off. After all, you don’t want your bell to ring during your first meeting with your boss. On this day, you should be 100% focused on getting to know your new company. A ringing phone on your first day at work can add to your stress.

• Thank you for your help

At the end of your first day at work, thank the people who helped you get started. Always be openly grateful for help! Say goodbye to co-workers you’ve met as well. Such a small gesture will allow you to score points among future colleagues.

Stress in a new job is completely normal. However, knowing the methods for proper preparation for a new job, you can significantly reduce it. Many of us ask the question,, how to deal with stress before a new job? It happens that stress has a motivating effect on us, but when it is permanent stress, it is worth considering the help of a specialist, because otherwise it can lead to unpleasant effects on physical and mental health.

Source:https://wellbeingpolska.pl/stres-w-nowej-pracy-jak-go-uniknac/

Supported by Norway through Norway Grants 2014-2021, in the frame of the Programme “Social Dialogue – Decent Work”.