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Health: In Shape
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You might expect to catch a co-worker's sniffles during cold and flu season, but few parents suspect that going to work every day can actually make them sick. Even more surprising is how your job can impact your family's health. Chronic sinus infections, digestive problems, high blood pressure and cholesterol. These are just a few of the "side effects" of working under a bully or in an environment that consistently drains your emotional energy. When your mind and body are relentlessly strained, you can develop emotional, mental and physical fatigu; it's called burnout. "Working for a demeaning supervisor causes stress that raises your risk of insomnia, stroke, hypertension, heart attack, diabetes, cancer, obesity and autoimmune diseases," says author and international leadership coach Steve Morris. What can you do to counter the negative stressors facing you at work? How can you boost your energy level at work? The answers may not be as alluring as you'd expect. Addicted to stress? Known as workaholics, adrenaline junkies and Type A personalities, many who thrive on facing repetitive deadlines and office controversy, or who awaken ready to square off against an overbearing boss, might actually be addicted to stressful situations. On their own, signs such as working well under pressure, seeking out and volunteering for assignments and carrying the phone everywhere are not necessarily signs that you may have become addicted to stress. Couple those signs with a feeling of guilt for leaving work early or on time, frequently overbooking your schedule, feeling restless at work and working late, and you may begin to realize you have inadvertently become addicted to stress. "These situations are all adrenaline boosters and it is possible to become addicted to excessive activity and the stimulation or arousal or adrenaline," says Dr. Gary Fielding of Chicago. "Adrenaline addiction has become very common. Workers are also balancing families, hobbies, furthering their education, etc. The demands have increased, thus energy output needs to increase." Breaking the cycle Identifying the level of stress you frequently find yourself up against will help you find healthier options to feel stimulated and challenged. Make a list of the people, actions or situations in your workday that sap your energy and one detailing those that give you energy. Rank the items on both lists from highest to lowest. "You can free up energy by reducing exposure to the top energy drainers, and increasing the frequency and contact with the top energy boosters," Morris adds. Other techniques such as looking at photos of loved ones, visualizing a favorite vacation spot or sanctuary, humming, and even improving your posture can help reduce workplace stress when demanding situations cannot be avoided. "I used to procrastinate and then be stressed from needing to dig out of the deadline hole I dug myself," admits Char McHoy, a single mother who works full time. McHoy is one of many working women who found that simple steps such as planning out her day in the morning and writing down ideas and errands in a notebook or PDA helps to eliminate stress carried between home and work. "I would sit at work and stress over what needed to be done at home, and stress at home over work," says McHoy. "Making lists and reorganizing my day helps to avoid wasting time." Stressing your family Just like children often bring germs home from school, working women tend to bring job stress home with them. "Your stress can be transferred and experienced by your family," says licensed marriage and family therapist Jamie Scott-Holson. A day marred by stress and a bully boss can translate into the lack of energy to review homework, converse with your partner or prepare the healthy dinner you were planning to serve. "Excessive workplace stress can have a domino effect on your family's health. Children can become agitated and experience 'second-hand stress' when their parents are emotionally overtaxed," says Scott-Holson. Children of parents facing on-the-job stress tend to experience similar bouts of insomnia, irritability and obesity. Boosting your health McHoy is one of many parents who have seen noticeable differences in their health since implementing some workplace stress relievers. "My blood pressure has gone down slightly and I don't wake up in the middle of the night worrying about incomplete tasks or a confrontation with my boss," she notes. "There is a direct correlation between how a person feels emotionally and how he or she feels physically," adds Dr. Fielding. Just as experiencing a happy event provides the energy to walk a little lighter or quicker, negative and stressful situations affect you physically, mentally and emotionally. Working parents concerned about their health should note that health experts agree it is never too late to begin changing your lifestyle and reducing on the job stress. "Even small steps such as taking breaks that get you out of your office or away from your desk for 10 minutes a day can help," offers Morris. Gina Roberts-Grey writes for several parenting publications. |
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