Stress- A fashion to avoid
If you’ve ever seen the corporate image at its worst, you’ll remember the “workaholics” and the other apparent masochists putting on quite a show. As a matter of fact, overwork is a serious health risk. Stress in the workplace is another. Put them together, and you get a medical condition which resembles something like one of those alarming car service jobs you can’t put off.
“Workaholism” was originally a fad of the 1980s. Like many corporate fads, it went from being a bit of a joke to being a way of life. It’s not a pleasant life, however. The hard work may bring rewards, but the stress brings punishment. The schedule of the workaholic is self destructive, and it also affects performance after a while. The greatest athletes will tell you there’s a time to lay off and rest, and they know why.
High performance is based largely on stamina. It’s a physical thing, not a mental thing, and the payback for overwork is often total breakdown. Like a car, things aren’t working any more, and it’s a particularly scary situation.
Signs of stress are:
- Mistakes- Things you normally do well, lots of nitpicking little errors.
- Relationship issues- Business or personal, including “strange” moments when you’re really not sure how a situation arose.
- Obsessive work behavior- Doing things for the sake of doing things, not really paying attention to the important things and getting lost in the minutiae.
- Emotional outbursts, out of character- Can be a sign of depression, brought on by getting run down.
- Can’t focus- Mind keeps shifting from subject to subject, doesn’t seem able to concentrate.
These are the basics, and they often happen in combination. They’re largely a result of wearing yourself out.
The downside of stress- Risks if you don’t look out
The most likely result of stress is depression. This is actually a physical condition, but it scrambles the hormones and takes time to fix. The bad news is that if it’s not handled soon enough, it can go on for years.
The good news is that if you get on to it early, it’s quite manageable. If you’re in your mid 30s or hitting 40, you’re a prime candidate for depression. It’s a result of running down, and it’s fixed by recharging yourself. You can really benefit from the recharging process, too.
To recharge, you need:
- Antidepressants, if appropriate. (Don’t get those stupid things that cause withdrawals or have “suicidal thoughts” as a side effect. God knows what they’re doing on the market anyway.)
- Good food- Fresh, real food, and plenty of it. This is restocking the batteries.
- Supplements- Help the recharge and prevent deficiencies.
- Exercise- Anything which you can do which doesn’t put a drain on your energy levels. Pain is not gain. Stick to realistic exercises that make you feel good.
Reincarnating yourself after stress is like a car repair job. It may take some panel beating, work on the transmission and dealing with the brakes and suspension, but it’s really pretty straightforward. Just make sure you do it.




