Stress at Work, Home, with Friends and Family

Much of your stress is a result of work as well as home life. Work stress in particular has grown over the past few years. Studies show that people are working much longer work weeks than ever. Many people easily work 50 to 60 hours a week, or more. That averages out to 10 to 12 hour workdays. That much work in itself is sure to cause some stress. There is also the fact that many companies have downsized in recent years. Your job is no longer secure as it once was. Your productivity is key to keeping your job. Executives who make even minor mistakes are being let go. With fewer workers doing the same amount of work, more work is expected from each employee. That is pressure, which translates to stress. In Japan, where work stress is well known, 10,000 men die each year from job-related stress.

With all the latest pressures at work, it’s no wonder that this is where much of our stress originates. Bosses who are demanding, co-workers who can be challenging and customers who can be difficult all work to create stress.
Although much of your stress may be work related, a certain amount of stress also occurs at home or with family and friends. Because people are so active and family members all seem to be running in different directions, stress can easily happen. With even the youngest members of the family involved in several different activities, the family is moving at a rapid pace. Multi-tasking isn’t just happening at the office anymore.

The onset of many different electronic devices is supposed to make our lives easier, right? Well, that hasn’t really happened. With the prevalence of cell phones has come the idea that we just can’t get away from anyone. We now need to be talking on the phone while we’re doing all of our regular chores. Our jobs, too, seem to think that since we have a cell phone we can be reached 24/7. The internet has brought many great things to us, however, we now have an email inbox to check and respond to. Everyone seems to now use your email to communicate with you.