Too much work, not enough play!

It seems lately that every second conversation or media story is about how much stress, frustration and sheer exhaustion people feel in the workplace.  Worries about competence and the value of work seem to be on the rise, too. Complaints about physical aches and pains, as well as the deterioration in previous healthy lifestyle habits, are multiplying.

Corporate cultures – make that workplace cultures – are built around different values and visions, which partly affect the way employees, colleagues and superiors interact during the workday. People also work in such varied physical environments – factory floors, cubicles, open-plan offices, and home offices, to name a few – that it is impossible to arrive at a one-size fits all approach to prevent or cure the emotional, physical and psychological exhaustion people are feeling on the job.

It is a complex problem with no easy solutions or fixes 
For the individual on the brink of a burnout, this is a serious individual and societal health problem.  Complaints broadly focus on:

• Overwhelming workloads with unsustainable demands for output
• A lack of time, budgets and resources to do a good job
• Unclear job expectations and uncertainty about priorities
• A lack of civility and an oversupply of rudeness verging on hostility – on the part of employees and employers  
• No recognition for contributions or acknowledgement of a job well done

Hard-working conscientious employees often cope with increased demands by working harder and longer. These employees often:

• Don’t take lunch
• Arrive earlier and stay later
• Bring work home
• Respond to emails late in the evening
• Sacrifice personal and family life 

I’m sure some employers would have the view that some employees:

• Are not conscientious
• Lack skills and competencies needed for the job
• Fall behind on deadlines and deliverables
• Take too many breaks
• Use work time for personal business
• Call in sick when they are not
• Have no idea of the pressure and constraints their superiors face

What can you do to help yourself?
Here is a sampling of some practical ideas to overcome challenging life-work difficulties, and to either avoid and or recover from a burnout.

I hope some of these can help you:

• Focus on health and wellness pursuits: be physically active on a daily basis, watch what you eat, get to bed earlier, and cut back on alcohol and cigarettes
• Integrate relaxation and meditative breaks into your workday
• Set personal boundaries on your time and protect your own agenda
• Find enjoyable activities outside of work and pursue creative outlets
• Cultivate and maintain a good system of support from friends and family, and focus on social connections with supportive people
• Seek out relationships outside of your immediate work group, function or department
• Take time to reflect on what you need and want, and to establish personally meaningful goals and tasks 

Sometimes, we are working in the ‘wrong’ place. The environment just doesn’t suit our personality. For example, if you are someone who values an egalitarian environment, and likes flexibility and creative work, then a rule-based, process-oriented and hierarchical culture is probably going to leave you unhappy. Some of us know from the outset what would make a good fit, but most of us learn from trial and error.

If you want to figure out and evaluate your options, it’s worthwhile talking it over with a coach. That's where I come in. The outside perspective can make a difference.

• Sometimes you might be facing a poor job fit and dysfunctional workplace (a bully, a micro-manager, a mismatch in values).
• At other times it might be a question of changing your outlook and attitude, learning more effective stress management strategies, or adopting new life-work balance habits. 

Play more,
Coach Minda