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BLOG>09/01-30/05 No Stress Thursday (Stress and Your Heart) Not going to write much today. Just want to point you in the direction of some good reading. I never see Newsweek here in Japan except for the Asian edition, and it is usually quite different. I was tipped off to the cover features entitled Stress and Your Heart in the September 25th edition of Newsweek. Other good articles: HUMP DAY HUMOR (The Onion) When in need of a nice bit of sarcasm and humor I turn to The Onion-America's Finest News Source. Here are a few of the headlines: Two
Publicists, Stylist, Personal Assistant Injured As Nicole Kidman Turns
On Handlers Cigarette
Moderation Still Kills Bush's
Approval Rating Of Other Americans Also At All-Time Low WORK/LIFE BALANCE (Take Back Your Time) Did you know that there is a special day coming up in about a month dedicated to getting back the time you lost at work? October 24, 2005 is designated as "Take Back Your Time" Day. Here is what the organization says about it itself:
Read more about "TBYT" at www.timeday.org. Their September newsletter just went online this week, here is a glance at the Table of Contents:
BURNOUT (Control Issues) [Recommended
reading-Banishing
Burnout What does it mean to have control problems with your work relationship? Do you feel ignored by your boss and work leadership? Do you feel that the policies of your organization are weak and the bureaucrats who enforce them inadequate? Do your superiors and colleagues undermine your work and make it difficult for you to have aa satisfying experience with work? Do you feel like your talents and skills have been wasted in your job? If so, you probably need more control over your work. Control issues can be addressed by changes in attitudes and behaviors both by individuals and the organization. Suggestions: Micromanagement in the organization is a reason for many control issues. It is hard to break out of this model. Yet, every small step of autonomy and decision making leads to more confidence, and more opportunities for personal control of your work environment. When your superiors are ineffective, rather than grousing about it, volunteer your assistance on the next project. Becoming instrumental in their success can lead to greater autonomy and control of your future. Developing a team that works well together is key to more control for an individual. The team will never progress as quickly or efficiently with weak members. Building one another up, and complimenting your colleagues skills will almost always lead to greater freedom. Incidentally, from my research, freedom and control are instrumental to the concept of intrinsic motivation--the more freedom/control a person has in life, the more intrinsically motivated aa person is. Persons who are intrinsically motivated are always less prone to burnout than those who are extrinsically motivated. [see Are You Intrinsically Motivated?] Consider what you personally can do for yourself and within your organization to deal with control issues. Probably more than you thought. (See September 5th, September 12th & September 19th for more of this series--more next week on Reward Issues) SUNDAY FEATURE (More Sabbath) This weekend I got a little Sabbath myself. I was at the YMCA Camp on top of Rokko Mountain near Kobe, Japan on Saturday and Sunday. The weather turned to fall, and the setting was incredible. Lots of hiking and time in the woods. The kids that were on the retreat with me were ecstatic to be in the outdoors. Most of the time they are surrounded by concrete and asphalt. One little girl pointed out that she had found a slide where your butt gets dirty. Another kid pointed out that he couldn't throw the ball very far without it hitting a tree--he said he never experienced that before. It might have been just 24 hours away from home, but it was what I needed. An ancient sabbath practice is to physically get away from the routines of the rest of the week. To get back into nature. An image that is found throughout the Bible is one of going to the mountain. Throughout the old and New Testaments, covenant people went to the mountain to be in the presence of God. It was that kind of weekend for me, a time to think clearer and to find rest and relaxation. What will you do this weekend that will give you an opportunity to think clearer? Where can you go that will give you some peace of mind? Rest and relaxation rarely come without an intentional act. What measures will you take this weekend to give you the rest and relaxation that you need? For Your Health Friday (Reduce Pain in Old Age) Here's one you would figure: People who exercise regularly experience 25% less muscle and joint pain than those who are less active. Though frequent runners are more likely to experience pain from injuries, they experience less pain overall. This particular study followed 866 subjects for 14 years. [Read Exercise Helps Reduce Pain In Old Age] This study followed runners, but there is other research that claims that any kind of activity is good for joint and muscle pain. The Leisure Guy favors walking, hill climbing and bicycling over running for those getting older, but if you feel like running, and your doctor doesn't frown on it, go for it. A few other things that would be considered acceptable exercise: gardening, yard work, lifetime sports (e.g. golf, bowling) There is no time like today to begin getting active. NO STRESS THURSDAY (Get some sleep) You know that sleep is good for you, how good is it? A
midday nap can actually reverse information overload. If you are experiencing
frustration over too much new information, take a break, shut the eyes
and see if you can't function better.
The
late stage of sleep that you have just before rising in the morning
(assuming that it is a healthy night's sleep) is crucial for eye hand
coordination and motor control. Athletes and musicians take note.
Adequate
sleep helps control blood sugar
A
good night's sleep is good for your memory.
Regular
sleep is essential for your immune system.
Sleep
deprivation is bad for creativity.
Sacrifice
sleep and you sacrifice peak performance.
Think I will turn in early tonight! [For more information about sleep and stress, read: The rewards of shut-eye] HUMP DAY HUMOR (The 2008 Olympics, Beijing Toilets) Let's just say that when you are interested in the Olympics, and you live in Asia, every news story about the 2008 games seems like big news. Today's humor story is no different [Read No flies on Chinese as Beijing toilet trains for Games]. Beijing is getting ready for the 2008 games by taking pride in their public toilets and have just developed the first governmental standards for public toilet management. Beyond the standards, they hired 400 workers to oversee the standards in urban Beijing. My friends who have lived there and visited there should be amused. Third-world is the best way to describe public toilets in China's capital city. Most have no running water, no flush mechanisms, no paper, and little cleanliness. I suspect that public toilets in Ethiopia might have the same characteristics. Here are priceless quotes from the article: "This
is a move to change the image of Beijing's toilets and make a better
impression," a Xicheng sanitation official surnamed Li told Reuters
by telephone.
In
July, the city vowed to launch "the largest toilet revolution in
its history." By September 6, nearly 1,100 public toilets across
the city had been upgraded, the Beijing Times reported Tuesday.
Some new public toilets in popular tourist spots are even ranked by a star system, with the cleanest and most comfortable getting a coveted four stars. I am not sure that this is what Mao had in mind when he talked about revolution. WORK/LIFE BALANCE (In Praise of Slow) I was introduced to Carl Honoré by Jeanette at People for a Short Work Week, and his book was on her reading list, so I ordered it and sat down an read it a hurry. :) Honoré is an excellent writer and has the eyes and ears of a travel journalist, yet he writes with ease about philosophical and technical subjects. It was a very enjoyable read, and very informative. It is full of personal stories and real life stories of people who have chosen a slower way of life. His chapter about "slow food" was delicious. The one on "slow sex" was titillating. The pages about "slow work" were informative and challenging. The book was full of humor, insight, and further questions to ponder. His notes and resource lists are valuable to any reader wanting to learn more about any of the topics discussed. A couple of facts included in the book: In
a recent international survey, 70% of people in 27 countries wanted
a better work-life balance.
The
average German spends 15% less time on the job than in 1980.
A
mid-rank French executive could likely have nine weeks of paid vacation
a year
In
Canada, some workers who chose to work fewer hours in a month actually
found that they had higher take home pay due to tax relief.
I think the book gives a very balanced approach to the slow movement, wrestles with the pros and cons of slowing down from a personal and corporate view, but in the end, Honoré gives an excellent testimonial for a more balanced life.
BURNOUT (Workload Issues) [Recommended
reading-Banishing
Burnout What does it mean to have workload problems with your work relationship? Are you exhausted by your work, and feel like you can't face another day of work? Are you too available for overwork because of technology and the inability to say no? Do you feel that there is not enough time to complete your tasks? Do you feel like your work assignments are unrealistic and too numerous for the time you have available? Affirmative answers to these questions are signs of workload issues. Workload issues can be addressed by changes in attitudes and behaviors both by individuals and the organization. Examples: Deal with exhaustion by developing physical stamina and learning to relax deeply. Counter over availability by developing uninterrupted time that allows you to complete projects and manage your time. Improve time management and cut those activities that are time wasting to give you more time. Reducing workload is one of the most direct approaches to having too much work on your plate. Consider what you personally can do for yourself and within your organization to deal with workload issues. (See September 5th & September 12th for more of this series--more next week on Control Issues) SUNDAY FEATURE (Book Recommendation) A book that I recently added to my library is Wayne Muller's Sabbath-Restoring the Sacred Rhythm of Rest. The book is an excellent overview of traditional views of the Judeo-Christian sabbath, and goes a step further to suggest ways that sabbath can be authentically lived out in the modern world. Muller draws deeply from Biblical and Talmudic tradition, but does not hesitate to look at sabbath like observances within other religions of the world. The book is punctuated with "Sabbath Practices" that can be observed by an individual in the midst of a busy and hectic life that could offer a sense of rest and meaning. Example: the sabbath meal, alone or with loved ones, designed to be savory, delicious, healthy and fun-filled. During the course of the meal, offer prayers of thanks for those who raised the food, the hands that prepared it, and for the earth that provided it. Recovering the rhythm of rest of our religious traditions may be a first step toward addressing stress and burnout in our lives.
SATURDAY SPORTS (Golfer Hearts) I have to admit that I am out of touch when it comes to sports in the USA. It is hard to get into watching baseball early in the AM (though the Mariner's and Yankees are usually on every day here). Monday Night Football comes on Tuesday evening as a replay and by that time you know who won. NCAA basketball is shown usually a week later than when it occurred except for the Final Four which is shown promptly at 9 or 10 AM. The one sport that gets plenty of coverage among the Japanese is PGA Golf. So this week's big news was David Toms dropping out of the 84 Lumber tourney because of what appeared to be a rapid heartbeat according to his caddy. Earlier in the week, Meg Mallon was reported to have had a pulse of 209 during the awards ceremony at an LPGA tourney. I awoke to a large story in my English newspaper this morning about Tom's condition (that has still not been confirmed). There was news earlier in the week about Meg Mallon. If it is golf, it is news in Japan. The Leisure Guy has a few thoughts: I would bet that genetics play a big role in both episodes. Neither of those athletes appears to be unhealthy,and they have regularly been walking 25+ miles per week for much of the year. Their cardiovascular systems are probably in excellent shape. Stress may have a role in both episodes. Toms was getting ready for a big international competition and stated publicly that was the reason for playing in the 84 Lumber tournament. Mallon had just clinched a win for the USA at the Solheim Cup with a clutch putt. Fatigue is also a possibility. It is late in the season.Many miles, many hotel rooms, many buffets and autographs. It can be debilitating. Sometimes the body just says it needs a break. Not sure what the final diagnosis will be, but I am glad that i don't have to depend on my golf game to make a living. That would be stressful. For Your Health Friday (Don't skip meals) HealthDay has daily health tips...today I saw this very simple advice: Don't skip meals. According to researchers at George Washington University, cutting calories by skipping meals might lead to weight gain. Those who skip breakfast are more likely to overeat later in the day. Skipping meals basically upsets the body's natural cycles of sleep. wakefulness and hunger, so as it tries to right itself, it overcompensates at other times of the day. My personal experience bears this out. During the heaviest time of my life, I was in a busy job where I often skipped breakfast, ate huge lunches, sometimes skipped dinners and snacked all night long. I thought, "How could I be gaining weight, I only eat one meal a day?" It was a disaster. I still don't eat as healthy as I would like, but I usually try to eat small amounts every few hours to keep hunger at bay, and overall I consume fewer calories. Go figure. Things I do try to skip these days: Appetizers
when I eat out
The
largest cut of meat at a sit-down restaurant
The
value meal at fast food restaurants
Sugary
drinks
The
dessert cart (except on special occasions
The
all-you-can-eat buffet
NO STRESS THURSDAY (Organizational Change) What can you do about stress at work. The Leisure Guy has already said plenty in the past few months about managing stress personally. But job burnout/stress is a complex animal. A person that has taken all the personal steps feasible, may still be dealing with a broken organization. And sometimes the strong organization has broken people. Sometimes there are outside factors that may be causing the stress, and those have to be managed. Today, let's look at some organizational changes that could make a difference with stress in the workplace: Ensure
that the workload is in line with workers’ capabilities and resources.
Design
jobs to provide meaning, stimulation, and opportunities for workers
to use their skills. Clearly
define workers’ roles and responsibilities.
Give
workers opportunities to participate in decisions and actions affecting
their jobs. Improve
communications—reduce uncertainty about career development
and future employment prospects. Provide
opportunities for social interaction among workers.
Establish
work schedules that are compatible with demands and
responsibilities outside the job. —American Psychologist [From Stress...At Work (620 KB)] As I have heard from managers and executives, this is easier said than done. But if never said, it will never be done. HUMP DAY HUMOR (Those crazy folks in Boulder, CO) Thanks to the heads-up of a regular reader of TLG, I discovered that some people will go to extremes to have fun. When I saw the title (Adults Finding Odd Ways to Stay Active) and the dateline (Boulder, CO) I knew it was worth reading. The Muddy Buddy race is a six-mile duathlon that ends with an Army-style crawl through a 50-foot-long mud pit, attracted more than 1,600 racers recently to the Boulder Reservoir. Two-member teams traded off between trail running and mountain biking, with each leg divided by a giant air-filled wall, monkey bars or some other kind of obstacle. The race is usually run in costume, and the mud is real (as is the beer). Consider people dressed only in their underwear running and biking like maniacs, followed by crawling through a mud pit. How about you? When was the last time you wore only your skivvies while riding a bike? Maybe it has been too long? WORK/LIFE BALANCE (Politics) We have just gone through a fast political season here in Japan. I can't say that I understand the system all that well, other than it is one of the shortest campaign seasons I have ever experienced. They announced the elections in August, the official campaign season began at the end of the month and then they voted on September 11th. Only a couple of weeks of campaigning and it is over. It is a very loud two weeks with vans with speakers driving through your neighborhood every night blaring campaign slogans and carrying women waving with white gloves. Being a citizen of the USA where a presidential campaign can last 2 or 3 years (or more), this is refreshing. In the past couple of months I have discovered what may be the most fun political party in the world. The Work Less Party is based in Vancouver, CA and has a compelling vision: "Work less, consume less, live more!!!" They are a grassroots organization that uses drama and surprise to get its message across. You may want to check out their video clip that gives a glimpse of what they do. This is not the Democratic Convention or a Town Square meeting but it is interesting to see a bunch of Canadians involved in politics. Alarm
Clocks Kill Dreams- mpg (31 MB)
Alarm
Clocks Kill Dreams- wmv (4 MB)
Take time to read their platform. Take a little time to consider what a shorter work week might do for you, for your family, for your community. BURNOUT (Overview: Six Strategies for Improving Your Relationship with Work) [Recommended
reading-Banishing
Burnout Based on the research of Christina Maslach and Michael Leiter, they identify six strategic areas of a person's relationship with work. Making changes in these areas can make a difference in a person's susceptibility to burnout. The six basic areas: Workload-
Are you exhausted, find yourself time pressured or feel you work too hard?
Control-
Are you being micro managed, have poor leadership, or ineffective work
teams?
Reward-
Do you feel you are unfairly compensated, get little recognition for your
work, or is work unsatisfying?
Community-
Is there divisiveness, poor communication or alienation in your workplace?
Fairness-
Are you experiencing a lack of respect, discrimination or seeing favoritism
toward others in the workplace?
Values-
Is there dishonesty, destructiveness, or lack of meaning in your work?
Are any of these areas affecting your relationship with work more than the others? Do you feel that a change in one of these areas is needed in your work life? By defining the problem, setting some goals, taking action and evaluating your situation, you can make a difference in your work and in your life. (See September 5th entry for the beginning of this series--more next week on Workload Issues) SUNDAY FEATURE (The Protestant Work Ethic) A heady topic for this Sunday: What exactly is this Protestant work ethic that I have heard all about? A view of life that promotes hard work and self-discipline as a means to material prosperity. It is called Protestant because some Protestant groups believe that such prosperity is a sign of God’s grace. (from The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. 2002.) Well, that's a definition, but it isn't that accurate.Many scholars believe that Max Weber's work in the early 20th century is responsible for modern notions of the Protestant (or Puritan) work ethic. The Protestant Ethic and The Spirit of Capitalism, 1905 (trans. 1930) is found in its entirety online. Among the ideas that he says make up this ethic: work should absorb most of life, getting rich is the goal of life, wealth is a sign of God's favor, the ethic approves of all forms of business competition. Let's just say that Weber missed the mark when interpreting the Protestant reformers of the 16th century, and missed the point of 19th century Puritans. There are a number of critiques of Weber's analysis because it is not in keeping with what would be considered traditional Protestant theology. The notion that wealth is a sign of God's favor is not in keeping with traditional Christianity. There are plenty of evangelists and TV preachers that would beg to differ, but a serious look at the doctrines of the Christian faith and the thinking of the reformers, wealth cannot be considered a sign of favor. What
do the Protestants say about work? [Without going into lots of detail
and providing copious notes, I will outline what traditional Christianity
would consider some important views on work--for more detailed information,
read: Redeeming
the Time Work
is virtuous
Idleness
and sloth are vices
All
kinds of work can be holy
Calling
and vocation are essential ways of thinking about work
Work
should be viewed service to God and the world
Work,
like most things in life, should be in moderation
SATURDAY SPORTS (Rugby Burnout) Last Saturday I wrote about athlete burnout, and not long after I had posted, I saw several articles about rugby burnout in Australia, New Zealand and in Britain. You are asking yourself, why would anyone worry about burnout in rugby? Well, believe it or not, it is a regular TV sport on this side of the globe. I actually live in a rugby paradise in Japan. Rokko Island is home to one of Japan's premier rugby schools, and is the home to many former World Cup Rugby stars from Australia and New Zealand. These guys come to Japan after their prime, and make good money to play on Japanese teams. It is not uncommon to walk into a grocery store, run into a huge guy who calls you "Mate" and you don't even have to ask what they do. It is obvious-rugby player. I actually talked about the whole issue with the woman who cuts my hair. Her husband used to play for Australia's world cup team, and now is a star with a Japanese team. She knows about burnout having lived with a professional rugby player for a dozen years. She tells me it gets real old dealing with the constant injuries, the constant traveling.She knows that burnout is for real among rugby players, she has witnessed it for her whole married life. Those that last in the game have amazing perseverance, a high threshold of pain, and usually admit to being just a little bit crazy. Here is an article about player burnout in the European Rugby Union: Rugby in danger of player burnout After the BBC investigated the sport for 10 years here are a few of the facts contributing to player burnout: The
past two years have seen numerous injuries affecting top players
Though
a 32 game limit was set in the league, many top players exceed that number
annually
Strength
and size is increasing among players, but they are still experiencing
large numbers of injuries--especially to knees
More
players are leaving the game before their prime
Any other sports experiencing similar troubles? For Your Health Friday (Conjugated Linoleic Acid) Some of my reading this week opened up a pile of information about conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). It came about because I was trying to figure out the reasons behind the success of my recent diet and workout schedules (since February). I couldn't figure out what I had done differently this time than in years prior. It just seemed that everything has come together in recent months and I am gaining muscle while losing overall fat. The only thing that has been different in my diet is that I have been drinking more milk each week than I have in years. It is part of a breakfast routine that usually includes a carton of milk (~ a pint) and a banana several days a week. The rest of my diet has not changed drastically (except maybe the milk keeps my appetite from increasing in the morning and leads to better lunch habits). I searched out some information on various sites, and it seems that maybe what is going on is that I might be getting more CLA in my system through the milk (it is in a Japanese carton, so I can't really figure out the fat content, I just know that it is not skim or low fat). CLA is an omega-6 fatty acid found mainly in dairy products, beef and lamb. Research has it linked as an antioxidant, anti-carcinogen, anti-catabolite, and immune system enhancer [Read A Look at What Conjugated Linoleic Acid Can Do For You]. In simple terms, it is good for weight loss without muscle deterioration, it is good for repairing damaged cells, and has disease fighting properties. CLA occurs naturally in sunflower and safflower oils, and gets into dairy and beef through feeds and silage. An article just published on the web today compliments this information: Cow's diet makes milk healthier, says study. The research is not fool-proof, but there seems to be reason to believe that this food component may just be linked to better health. A little warning: to get to the quantities of CLA that were used in studies, one would have to eat 500g of fat daily, which kind of defeats the purpose. There are supplements available that run about 30 calories per day that provide the same amount of benefit. The Leisure Guy will keep you posted when he learns more. NO STRESS THURSDAY (NIOSH Report) Stress is so rampant in the world that if you Google the word, you will get 49 million responses. Narrow the search to "job stress" and you get just 38.5 million. Lots of information out there, some of it duplicated in many places. The Leisure Guy tries to comb through it and give you a some brief notes and helpful hints every Thursday. I guess my job is secure for a few more weeks. One of the resources that I have found in a couple of places that is now available from The Leisure Guy is: Stress..at Work (620 KB) from The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (1999). Here is an excerpt from that document: Job
Stress and Health:
What the Research Tells Us Cardiovascular
Disease
Many studies suggest that psychologically demanding jobs that allow employees little control over the work process increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Musculoskeletal
Disorders
On the basis of research by NIOSH and many other organizations, it is widely believed that job stress increases the risk for development of back and upper- extremity musculoskeletal disorders. Psychological
Disorders
Several studies suggest that differences in rates of mental health problems (such as depression and burnout) for various occupations are due partly to differences in job stress levels. (Economic and lifestyle differences between occupations may also contribute to some of these problems.) Workplace
Injury
Although more study is needed, there is a growing concern that stressful working conditions interfere with safe work practices and set the stage for injuries at work. Suicide,
Cancer, Ulcers, and Impaired Immune Function
Some studies suggest a relationship between stressful working conditions and these health problems. However, more research is needed before firm conclusions can be drawn. —Encyclopaedia
of Occupational Safety and Health
HUMP DAY HUMOR (Who moved his cheese?) Every once in awhile, the international news picks up on an odd story from Japan. This week Reuters writes about a tiff between the Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and a former prime minister Yoshihiro Mori [Read: Sales up in Japan of cheese insulted by politician]. Seems Koizumi had invited Mori to his home for some political maneuvering. After the meeting, Mori reports that he had been peeved by Koizumi because all he had been served was beer and some simple snacks. This is a grand faux pas in the country I live. An evening meeting with a person of notoriety is supposed to include a fancy meal, and serious hospitality. Beer and snacks are a serious breach in etiquette. Mori was even more upset about the cheese that was served. He complained that it was so hard that he could not bite into it. Little did he know he would start a run on a french cheese named "Mimolette" that cheese aficionados think gets tastier the harder it gets. The insult of the cheese immediately sparked sales in gourmet cheese shops across the country with sales three times as usual. The story is very truthful about Japanese politics. People rise and prosper as politicians partially by their ideas, mostly by their habits of hospitality and public decorum. Koizumi has been a maverick since taking office but he got more negative press over imported beer and french cheese. Another truthful thing about the article is the "group think" nature of Japan. From fashion to food, trends begin in the strangest of ways, and everybody has to have it. I have seen seasonal beers take off here because a sports star mentions he likes it. I have seen the beef industry brought to its knees by the rumor of Mad Cow disease. When an amusement park was fined for a couple of small violations, attendance dropped by 40% until a public apology was made. So, it is my hope that Koizumi will read this, get offended, and turn the nation towards TheLeisureGuy.com (unfortunately, it's in English and loses something in translation). Work/Life Balance (Startling statistics) As I write this, the USA is at the end of Labor Day Weekend, the last hurrah of the summer dedicated to the American worker. A great weekend to consider the balance of work and life. One of the leading proponents of the "work-to-live" movement is John de Graaf. He has a number of articles online and his most recent book is: Take Back Your Time. One article that I found was an open letter to Europeans about the nature of work on the two continents.[Read Tyranny of Time] Here are some of the statistics mentioned in the article: USA
workers spend over 350 hours more in work in a year than Western Europeans
(almost 9 more weeks on average)
Workplace
stress and burnout costs USA corporations over $340 billion dollars per
year
Eight
of ten workers say they are stressed at work
Only
23% of workers report that they come to work refreshed on Mondays
The
average worker in the USA gets two weeks vacation compared with the average
of six weeks in Europe
37%
of women in the USA making less than $40,000 per year get no vacation
at all
163
nations around the world guarantee paid family leave for caring for infants
and sick relatives, the USA has no guarantee
There
is a 48 hour work-week cap for workers in the European Union, and in the
USA there is no maximum number of hours for a USA worker (As long as overtime
premiums are paid. However contract loopholes allow for some employers
to avoid paying workers those premiums)
How did you spend Labor Day Weekend? How about those work weeks ahead? BURNOUT (Excellent resource) Banishing Burnout, a recent book by Michael P. Leiter and Christina Maslach is one of the best resources that has surfaced in recent years. It is readable, is based on sound research and methodologies, and it is practical. It uses practical surveys/inventories that take an individual through a process of self-discovery that lead to practical actions/objectives. I think that it is a very usable resource that most anyone who is in the workforce could benefit. The here is also a website with complimentary materials that help explain the theory behind this resource. [see Banishing Burnout-Centre for Organizational Research and Development] In the coming weeks, I will highlight parts of the book, and how it may benefit you. Here are some basics of the book: Your
work life is a relationship...between you and It (rather than a s/he).
Burnout
involves three basic elements:
Energy-Burnout
is lost energy
Involvement-
Burnout is lost enthusiasm
Efficacy-
Burnout is lost confidence
You are not alone, and the relationship can be better
Coming up next week- Overview: Six Strategies for Improving Your Relationship with Work
SUNDAY FEATURE ("Leisure Church" 4) [see entries from August 14, August 7th, July 24th and July 31st to see the rest of the series] This section might also be entitled: "Leisure Organization." There is probably no one reading this that has not encountered the organization, club or group that doesn't consume your time and energy. An organization or club is usually geared toward consuming every available hour that a person has to offer. Many organizations I encounter, from churches/religious groups, to charitable organizations, to volunteer groups, to clubs...most are kept running by a small number of persons who are extremely committed to the cause, and who work tirelessly to keep it going. As a pastor for many years, often it is a handful of people doing most of the work that keep a church running. In the occasional sports club or leisure group i have been involved, it was one or no more than two people who kept the group corralled. If asked why members of the total group don't participate in the administration of the club, the number one reason: "I don't have time for the meetings." What a delight it is to discover other models of doing business. "Leisure Church/Organization" is light on meetings and heavy on team delegation. I always imagined serving a church where there weren't numerous weeknight meetings that absorbed large amounts of time (often involving many of the same people). My current church is such a place. Business meetings average less than once per month, and committee meeting average less than a few times a year. How is it possible? Lots of emphasis on team and small group responsibility- put motivated people in charge of a task, give them support, and get out of the way. It makes for less meetings, and often more gets done. Emphasize future programs and coming events vs. past happenings- spending more time on planning the future, and less dissecting the past. There is always the need to evaluate, but the reason for evaluation is an improved future. Do as much work by phone/email as possible- many of my meetings have been pre-empted by the exchange of emails and coming to a group consensus without scheduling a time and place Set meeting end times and stick to them- amazing what can get done in a short amount of time when there is an expectation of an end time for a meeting. Practice humor and joy as a part of meeting times- even when you have to meet face to face, a meeting should be led with a sense of humor and with a light touch. People will come back to a joyful experience. SATURDAY SPORTS (Athlete Burnout) This past month, as high schools and colleges kicked off their fall sports schedule, I have noticed a few articles in the news about athlete burnout. It happens every year at this time. The news stories usually highlight top athletes who leave their sport but don't mention the large numbers that leave anonymously. What does athlete burnout look like? Much like burnout in the general public, athletes experience similar psychological symptoms: sleep disturbance, lack of confidence, irritability, exhaustion, anger/hostility. Physical symptoms would include: Elevated blood pressure, unexplained weight loss, and gastrointestinal disorders. The symptoms can build until the athlete's performance deteriorates or until he/she quits participating altogether. There are unique qualities about athletes that make them more susceptible. First, many athletes are perfectionists and demand continued improvement from themselves, adding to personal stress. Second, many athletes are people pleasers, they like to be admired and like to be noticed. They do this at the expense of their own personal needs. My research discovered links between burnout and intrinsic motivation. The more intrinsically motivated an individual, the less likely they will suffer from burnout. Participating in sports for extrinsic awards and adulation rather than for the pure joy of the sport can contribute to the burnout syndrome. Further, a key to understanding intrinsic motivation is to look at the relationship between the challenges and skills of the athlete. If the athlete's skills are greater than the challenges, boredom may arise ; if the challenges are greater than the skills, anxiety may ensue. In both cases, burnout is a possibility. How do you prevent burnout in athletes? Here are several hints Emphasize
intrinsic qualities of the sport- such as health and fitness, mental health,
personal satisfaction
Keep
a balance between the challenges and skills by watching pace of instruction
and improvement
Vary
experiences and workouts to avoid monotony
Athletics
are part of a balanced life- make sure there is a life outside of sports
Provide
for adequate rest and relaxation
Some reading: 'For Your Health' Friday (Love that Java) The story that circulated the globe this week that was music to many ears...coffee may actually have a purpose other than providing that morning jolt, raising blood pressure and keeping you up at nights. It is the top source of disease fighting antioxidants in the USA diet. It beat out bananas, black tea, dry beans and corn that are all common antioxidants. So for those of you who drink coffee, take heart, there are positive benefits.[Read Coffee Buzz: Drink Is Top Antioxidant Source in U.S.] What's
an antioxidant?
Antioxidants
are specialized chemicals that neutralize molecules called free radicals
in the human body,explains Joe Vinson, a chemistry professor at the University
of Scranton in Pennsylvania.
When too many free radicals build up in the body, they start to damage cells and can cause cancer and heart disease. Numerous studies in recent years have touted the benefits of eating foods high in antioxidants to ward off such diseases. "Antioxidants are compounds already in your body, but you need more than what the body produces," Vinson, the study's lead author, said. (From National Geographic News, August 31, 2005) There are some cautions that must be noted: Caffeine
content is related to some health disorders
It
does not supply all of the antioxidant types and should be part of a balanced
diet that includes a variety of antioxidants
There
are other studies that show positive health benefits for coffee that
I found interesting. So what are the best antioxidants? [Read Largest USDA Study of Food Antioxidants Reveals Best Sources] The top 5 [and it should be noted that coffee does not show up in top 20, nor black tea; many common fruits show up on the list of 20 (bananas do not) and many are a more complete sources of antioxidants]: Small
red bean (dried)
Wild
blueberries
Red
kidney bean (dried)
Pinto
bean
Blueberry
(cultivated)
I will go to Starbucks in the morning knowing that I am getting a little disease protection with my Saturday morning buzz. NO STRESS THURSDAY According to some research in England, nearly three-quarters of staff believe that their employers do not take stress seriously. The survey was of 2,500 employees. [Read Employers fail to take stress seriously] Some of the findings: More
than 80% of employees said they would not take time off work through
stress for fear of losing pay or their job.
79%
of stress-ridden workers feel frustrated that they have nobody to confide
in at work
71%
respondents say work-related stress has a negative impact on their personal
life
79%
believe they do not get paid enough to deal with the amount of stress
and responsibility they undertake in their job
A few comments: I haven't gotten a chance to look at the methodology or the questions in the survey, it is highly possible that the questions were leading or weighted toward the employees. Seventy-five percent of a population is an awfully high number in most surveys of 2500 persons. Statistically significant findings usually come in at lower percentages (making these findings very amazing). It should be no less than a wake-up call to employers that stress is serious business in companies, and that there are large numbers of disgruntled employees walking around who are frustrated, do not trust management, and whose lives are out of balance. This cannot be a positive situation for the work environment. What is an employer to do? [Quote from article] Peter Done, managing director of Peninsula, said employees would not put up with employers who ignored their stress levels forever. "Employers who ignore stress in the workplace are liable to be taken to a tribunal by employees," he said. "Employers who turn a blind eye to stress are not conforming to legislation requirements and are breaking the law." In the USA, there are no legislative measures in place that I know of, so lawsuits are harder to bring. But having healthy and happy employees should be worth more than a potential lawsuit. Developing lines of communication for staff is essential and developing an atmosphere where conflict and complaint does not mean a demotion or loss of job. Negative communication made in the right spirit can bring innovation and lead to better and more effective work for the company. Financial considerations should be taken when addressing stress and anxiety in the workplace. Would raising an employee's take home salary for an increase in responsibility be more cost effective than providing severance pay, hiring new staff, and training new workers? This might be the case with stress left unchecked in a company.
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© 2005, Michael Rich and Seatomypants Productions
by Leiter and Maslach]