SUPERSIZED STRESS: ARE WE UNPRODUCTIVE AT WORK?
by Caroline Tapp-McDougall

With experts estimating the loss of production caused by stress and mental illness at a whopping 33 billion a year in Canada, and 40% of job turnover credited to stress, it’s time we took a closer look.

It’s easy and tempting to blame jobs and/or employers for toxic environments, for the plight of over-worked employees who struggle on each day and the increase in absenteeism due to health-related conditions like anxiety, fatigue, high blood pressure, depression, weight gain, etc. However, after a closer look at many of our Canadian lifestyle choices, family challenges and financial pressures, it may be fair to ask if some of the stress we feel is self-induced and/or a result of lack of education and skills training. For example:

•    Have we learned to identify a positive challenge that will energize and motivate us to learn new skills and get better at our jobs?

•    Are we able to step back and ask if the compensation and capabilities required are worth the stress and govern ourselves and our choices accordingly?

•    Alternatively, below the surface, are problems in other areas of our lives weighing heavily on health, energy levels and on-the-job focus/productivity? How can we help each other to better communicate regarding these issues and accommodate personal needs with minimal disruption?

The “medical” signs of stress are seemingly endless. High blood pressures, headaches, shortness of breath, stiff neck, constipation, back pain and more. Interventions in our deadline-driven culture, like medication, exercise, counseling and yoga are just as prolific and necessary, but are they enough and are they working? Could there be additional, more meaningful programs introduced? Is your work environment positive and healthy? Consider whether your organization has created “long work hours culture” and how that might affect health, families and attitudes. Are healthy habits encouraged through access to fitness programs and nutritious foods?

We all need to think outside the box, be aware enough to determine telltale signs of stress in the early stages and be prepared to take action, personally, to get the relief we need. Watch for these early warning signs:

•    Assignments not done on time
•    Staying too late in the evening
•    Failure to arrive on time
•    Signs of alcohol abuse
•    A less vibrant, energetic approach to work
•    Difficulty concentrating, remembering or engaging
•    Family matters that interrupt the work day
•    Lunch at the desk without a break

There are no shortcuts
Avoiding stress requires good, caring communication to really see and understand how we are managing and what is needed. It is about building an honest, straightforward rapport in the work place that prioritizes stress reduction. Guaranteed, if we pay attention and take a pro-active approach, it will be better for our health and everyone else’s as well!