Smoking For Stress Relief

All call center agents experience stress from time to time, and they cope with it in different ways. For many agents, cigarettes are credited with calming their nerves.

It’s no surprise that many BPO employees are smokers. There are some reasons why they smoke at stressful times; they think that smoking gives them a much deserved break, they feel a sense of camaraderie because smoking is usually done in a group of people, and they feel relief because smoking eliminates nicotine withdrawal symptoms.

These are just some of the common beliefs of call center agents, but in reality, there is no proven evidence that nicotine eases stress. In fact, smoking does not improve stressful situations and might make things even worse because of its health risks. Smoking can cause lung cancer, heart disease, ageing, and damage to blood circulation. Some conditions are worsened by smoking including asthma, colds, flu, chest infections, tuberculosis, chronic rhinitis, diabetic retinopathy, hyperthyroidism, multiple sclerosis, optic neuritis, and Crohn’s disease.

Quitting smoking is difficult, but you can reduce the risk of getting serious diseases no matter what age you give up. However, the sooner you stop, the greater the reduction in your risk. It’s estimated that 2 in 3 smokers want to stop smoking. For some, the quest to stop smoking is an easy one. Willpower and determination are the most important aspects when giving up smoking.

There’s always room for self improvement, and you can find other healthier ways to cope with stress. If you decide to quit smoking, know that you’re not alone. There are a variety of tools, resources, and professionals ready to help you kick the habit.