How to Reduce Stress in a High-Pressure Commercial Kitchen?

 

Being a chef is not easy, as one faces new challenges every day and throughout working hours. They work under very stressful circumstances, which even affects their personal life to an extent. The most common reasons contributing to stress include long working hours without breaks, low pay, and disturbed work-life balance.

It is due to the strict and militarist environment where each person has defined responsibilities. According to previous studies, this militarist aspect increases the stress levels, which eventually lead to the development of other health issues.

What are the most common reasons for stress for chefs?

According to Nestle’s CHEF reports, which are based on the reasons or factors that affect chefs' mental peace and emotional well-being. Here are the findings:

Stress not only affects the mental well-being of chefs in professional kitchens. Instead, it has a bigger impact on wider business models. It is the reason almost 73% chefs get sick due to constant stress. It is the reason most chefs leave the industry and their jobs after some time. Physically exhausting conditions, long working hours, and pressure force one to quit.

However, losing the job proves to be the biggest mistake for some. It is because finding a job is not easy again, especially for chefs. Moreover, unfamiliarity with the cutting-edge tools, technology and food trends further contributes to the struggle. Meanwhile, providing for the family becomes challenging. 

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6 strategies Chef can deal with stress in a pressure-based setting

Long and busy working days with no time for socialising and trips may drain you. However, there is something that you can do to reduce the stress intensity. Here are some ways to deal with anxiety and constant worries in a commercial kitchen setting:

1)     Work in a ventilated atmosphere

Ventilation is important as the kitchen space is the room where the temperature is high in comparison to other rooms. Therefore, check whether there is enough ventilation to work for long hours. Good ventilation support reduces the sweating intensity, ensures proper air and hence doesn’t drain your energy. Also, make sure there are not more people working in the kitchen. It reduces the congestion and any possibility of feeling choked.

 

2)     Get access to the right equipment

Every chef can work better in the presence of the right tools and equipment. From cookware to knives, every item used for cooking must be safe and functional. It reduces the cooking hours and helps a chef prepare a dish on time. According to studies, “chefs having access to all the required equipment face less stress than those devoid of it.” How does using the right tools help relieve the chef’s stress? Here are the reasons:

Q  Proper tools reduce the physical strain. It limits wrist and hand fatigue during long-hour shifts

Q  Temperature measuring tools help maintain consistency in taste and texture

Q  Having access to the right tools reduces the chances of workplace accidents

Q  It helps a chef concentrate more on plating and presentation than on doing everything from scratch.

Q  Having sufficient tools and equipment prevents quarrels among staff.

 

3)     Don’t hesitate to ask for help

You cannot do everything on your own- that’s a fact. So, try to be flexible and ask for help when you need it the most. Do not hesitate just because of the fear of not getting the expected reaction.  It is just important to know when to ask for help and learn how to be tension-free. Collaboration makes things easy and less confusing. Delegating the tasks helps you do everything best. You don’t rush the hours then.

Also, try to take small breaks amid your schedule to relax. Constantly remind yourself of the deep-seated love for cooking and the things that make you a good chef.

4)     Stay away from workplace conflicts

Being a part of the job, you cannot stay blindfolded or numb to the quarrels going on around you. However, you can surely stay out of this to maintain your mental peace. It is especially when the things do not concern you.

Conflicts between co-workers are normal in the chef industry. You should prepare yourself to deal with that accordingly. You can follow some strategies to avoid unnecessary drama and concentrate on the important aspects. Here is how to avoid workplace conflicts:

Q  Listen actively and reply firmly

Q  Respect people’s boundaries and roles

Q  Don’t take criticism personally, but as a career growth opportunity

Q  Practice empathy with your co-workers

Q  Stay out of gossip and cliché kitchen cultures

 

5)     Build trust as co-workers

A good team effort is essential for a healthy workplace environment. Try to resolve the existing conflicts if you can.  When a team works as a cohesive whole, it results in success. Trust between the kitchen members is ranked high in building team dynamics. The best examples of coordination can be rotating dishes and chefs around the sections to serve the customers.

Additionally, check whether the firm offers enough scope for learning skills, upgrading or training opportunities to grow. It keeps one motivated throughout the kitchen hours. Moreover, upskilling is the most important aspect to eliminate stress related to bias.

Check out the ways to update your culinary and cooking skills. It is because you may not necessarily get the right exposure to improve your skills.  Determine the best courses offline to curate your skills. Online cooking classes would not help you much. But experimentation and practice can help you learn new aspects and update yourself. 

Many new students or learning chefs continuously look for opportunities to improve their skills. However, some struggle to enrol on the course due to financial constraints. If you believe that a particular course may help your resume and improve your skills, go for it.

Don’t worry about low savings; check bad credit loans without a guarantor online. Yes, you may get one if you meet the affordability threshold. What can be better than enrolling for the course without bothering your guardians? Check the total costs and the interest to pay. Fetch the quote with the affordable terms and repayments. Such financial facilities help you achieve your goals without worries.

6)     Practice good communication

Communicating rightly is the key to relieving stress and anxiety. Speaking to someone or your co-workers helps you release the psychological burden. If you share some good friendships, communication may also help you get clarity on things. Thus, this eventually reduces the stress bars.

Moreover, avoid shouting at people regardless of the matter. It prevents you from attracting unnecessary bias and scornful eyes. You can instead discuss it with the specific person in an easy and calm tone. If you constantly, the people or co-workers may get less responsive to it. Moreover, it may prove negative for your career growth aspects.

Bottom line

These are some strategies to reduce stress while working in a high-pressure Commercial Kitchen. Determine the factors affecting your mental peace. Get help and try to solve the aspects affecting your progress at the workplace.  Avoid engaging in conflicts and practice good communication. Try to build trust as a working professional and respect boundaries.