Working in Japan: Stress Management for Foreigners Working in Japan

When foreigners work in Japan, they may face a variety of stressful situations.
For example, " not getting used to Japanese culture" or "not being able to communicate well with co-workers" are some of the stresses they may face.
 
If such kinds of stress are left untreated, both the mind and body will become exhausted.
Therefore, stress needs to be managed appropriately.
 
In this article, we will discuss what kind of stress foreigners working in Japan may experience and how to deal with stress.

What kind of stress do foreigners working in Japan experience?

Unfamiliarity with the Japanese workplace culture

Each country has its own culture and customs that are unique to its workplace.
Cultures that are different from your own country can be difficult to be understood, and it may take time to get used to them. This can be a cause of stress.
 
In Japan, as well, there are some workplace cultures that are unique to Japan.
For example, hierarchical relationships with superiors and seniors, and the importance of teamwork.
 
[How to deal with it]

• Try to accept and understand cultural differences.
• Try to increase communication with your coworkers.

 
No matter the country, it is important to accept and respect the culture of the country in which you are living.
To become familiar with the culture of the Japanese workplace, it is important to first learn about it and try to understand it.
 
Japanese workplace rules and customs are often not clear or written down as rules.
If you are not sure of what should be done, try to ask your coworkers frankly.
 
Increasing communication with your coworkers will help you understand and become familiar with the workplace.
 
Once you get familiarized, you might be able to reduce your stress by having a willingness to enjoy the differences.

Having difficulty to communicate properly

If your Japanese is still limited, you will probably experience stress from not being able to communicate well with your superiors and coworkers.
You may not understand what they are saying, or you may feel uncomfortable because there is no one in the office who speaks the same native language as you.
 
[How to deal with it]

• Speak without hesitation.
• Keep learning Japanese.

This problem is a bad cycle of people who do not speak because they feel embarrassed due to their poor level of Japanese, which makes it even more difficult to communicate with others.
First, it is important not to hesitate to speak, even if your Japanese is not perfect.
 
It is also helpful to make sure that people in your workplace understand your level of Japanese and seek out their support.
If you talk often with your colleagues and supervisors, you will feel less isolated and anxious, and therefore more comfortable in the workplace.
 
Of course, it is also important to continue studying Japanese.
It is recommended learning not only daily conversation, but also the language used in the workplace and words used in a professional context.
In addition, asking for proactive feedback from your superiors and coworkers may help you identify weaknesses in your Japanese skills.

Having no one to talk about work-related concerns

There are times when you need to talk to someone about your work problems or concerns.
However, if there is no one around who you can talk to, keeping it to yourself can be even more stressful.
 
[How to deal with it]

• Talk to your supervisor or co-workers.
• Make use of a consultation service.

First, talk to your supervisor.
If you want to talk about it casually, you can ask a colleague for some advice.
If you are not yet close with your coworkers, it is recommended that you try to initiate some casual chitchat and actively participate in company events to create an opportunity to get to know each other.
 
However, sometimes it is difficult to talk to a supervisor or colleague.
In such cases, you may want to consider using a consultation service.

Having difficulties figuring out a career plan

If you don't have a goal for your future work or can't come up with a career plan, you may feel anxious and impatient.
This can also contribute to stress in some cases.
 
[How to deal with it]

• Talk to people around you.
• Gather information about career planning.

 
It is also advisable to talk to those around you about your career.
You may also want to ask for opinions not only from your superiors and colleagues at work, but also from your seniors who are from the same country, or from various people on social media.
 
It is also important to gather information about career planning by yourself.
You will have time to think about what kind of work is right for you and what you want to do in the future.

Excessive workload

Excessive workloads can lead to stressful situations, such as increasing of overtime work or feelings of pressure.
 

[How to deal with it]

• Talk to your supervisor.
• Increase work efficiency.

 
First, talk to your superiors. They may be able to adjust your workload and deadlines.
Then, also try to manage better your own time. If you can think about which tasks to do first and work more efficiently, you may not be so concerned about the amount of work you have to do.

How to manage stress successfully?

First, it is important to recognize that you are stressed

If you feel your body is tired or your mind is tired, you may be under stress.
Stress can affect your physical condition. For example, the following symptoms may be caused by stress.

• Headaches
• Stomachaches
• Irritation
• Difficulty in focusing
• Difficulty in sleeping well
• Lack of appetite
• etc. 

If you notice that you are stressed, try to deal with it as soon as possible.

Steps to deal with stress successfully

Step 1. Identify your current condition

First, it is important to identify your current condition as follows.

• When did you start to feel stressed?
• What caused the stress?
• What happened to you after you felt stressed?

For example, try to clarify your current situation like this:
[When] I felt stressed when I could not communicate well with my co-workers.
[[What caused]] It was because I couldn't speak Japanese well.
[What happened] I felt depressed and could not sleep well.

Step 2. Figure out how to deal with it.

Once you have sorted out the stress you are under in Step 1, the next step is to think about how to handle it.
Let's first consider how you should think about it and how you can solve the problem.
 
For example, here are some ways to deal with communication problems.

• Try to spend more time studying Japanese so that you can improve your conversational skills.
• Ask your supervisor or co-workers for feedback about your communication skills.

 
Think proactively if you cannot find a clear way to handle the situation.
When feeling down, doing some light physical exercise, such as stretching or jogging, can also be helpful.

Finally

People working in unfamiliar countries can be stressed by different situations.
This is the same not only in Japan, but wherever you live.
 
If you have any stress, it is important to think about how to deal with it successfully.
Please try to manage well your stress and make your life healthy and enjoyable.