How Your Work Is Killing You And 6 Tips To Change That
Office work is considered a low risk work place because no heavy machinery or chemicals are involved, it’s a very low risk of health and life danger. But is it actually so?
As reported by Fortune magazine “… job insecurity increases the odds of reporting poor physical health by about 50%, high job demands raise the odds of having a physician-diagnosed illness by 35%, and long work hours increases mortality by approximately 20%”.
Looks really scary. But it’s not all the story. Same article concludes: “Unsurprisingly, extensive epidemiological evidence shows that stress has both a direct effect on health and also affects individual behaviours such as smoking, overeating, drug abuse, and alcohol consumption that in turn affect an individual’s health and mortality.”
Welcome to modern era work force, tricky as f… with all the social benefits and package, they still get the most out of you. We spend most of our live working already. So there’s not much time for ourselves. And you wanna tell me it also reduces my life span?
Ok, we got, it’s stress, unhealthy work environment (with all those “vipers” in the office kitchen). Then what? Except it and do nothing about it? Complain to reduce working hours? Sounds nice right? And the Internet is full of articles like “Why you need to have 30/25/15 hours work week”. But the thing is, even if you decrease your working hours and still hate and stress about your job it’s not going to do much. Yes sure shorter work hours help… to certain extend. And then what?
Then go these 6 points that make major difference. No need to go on strike. It’s not “us vs them”. No need to turn it into hate to what you do and your boss. It will only increase your stress. These 6 tips will help improve your work life conditions and help you live more balanced healthier life. I checked.
1. Do what you like. As cliche as it may sound, it is really important. In already stressful environment, hating what you do only makes it worse. And please mind that there’s no paradise dream work where everything is rainbows and butterflies. But you can find a place where you enjoy environment, work process, field, whichever is important for you.
2. How to release stress? — Don’t get stresses. Being centred will help not to get stressed in the first place. It’s like building an invisible barrier (though you can really visualise it as a glass wall) around you that doesn’t let negativity, other’s mood in and your energy out. It’s also a barrier that helps you stay professional without taking issues too personal
3. If you still feel stressed. Of course some stress can still accumulate. Best stress release is relaxation. Not drinking, random sex partners, and other self-destructive activities, but relaxation. Relaxation comes in many forms: from the most straight-forward conscious body relaxation techniques and meditation, nature walks, visits to museums, to sports, dancing, pleasant conversations. What can be relaxing in sports? Well, your brain relaxes. That’s exactly what you need.
4. Securing yourself. Job insecurities can be cushioned by savings. If you are feared of loosing job, why don’t you save? have 1 to 3 months worth of living costs in your bank account AT ALL TIMES. This will make you feel much safer. Cannot save because your salary is small, you have debts and obligations? No wonder you are stressed. But it’s not your boss’s fault, I’m sorry. Get financial advice, personal finance 101 course or seminar, sort it out.
5. Do you really need to stay late? Sometimes working extra hours necessary, it just happens so. Though I believe that it’s still a result of bed planning or unrealistic, unmanaged expectations. However, if it’s expected from you to stay late every day — leave. Stay for 6–12 months if you feel it’s absolutely necessary for your career and then leave. I’m serious.
6. Know your worth. This point is directly related to the previous one. If you know your worth and portray and project it, most probably people trust you and have adequate expectations of your performance. If you still receive unrealistic demands and expectations, there may be several reasons. A) You simply don’t manage expectations (communicate in advance how much work should be expected to be completed within particular time, and stick with it); B) You made them believe you’ll always take everything (to show yourself in the beginning you were saying yes to extra work and extra hours so that it became “normal” and expected from you); C) You are simply in a volunteer slavery and your boss is inadequate, old-fashioned and have poor management skills… — run.
Happy work life,
Olga
