Comments on: Myths we hold about workplace stress

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 16:46:50 +0000

At the end of a stressful day I watch some relaxation clip at http://www.relaxwithnature.com and it helps. It's one of my tools to control stress, makes it manageable. So I think stress is not that bad if you can control it.

By: pat

pat — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 23:02:19 +0000

I do things I enjoy at home [ the things about making more money and imporving my life] all day all night without stress but at work I spend only 1 or 2 hours I feel bored. That's because I don' love what I do at work. I work for money and the bad part is high responsibilities but low pay, I think most people feel the same way that I do.

I don't care much about " run away from the problem or stay to fight " because if I can fix those stupid problems and get work done on time, I don't see any better things will come to my life because my company is that way [ I experienced it not just predict] so why do I have to work at that company.

People who sit on the same situation like mine have to find channels to release stress. All of those things take me to another world. The world I enjoy and I wish someday I could make a lot of money from those too.

Keep looking what you love and turn it to something you can make money from.

Good sites, keep on writing. I love sites that show the way to release stress with a good style not a boring style and doesn't seem to get to the point.

By: Sean Teebs

Sean Teebs — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 18:27:06 +0000

Nothing about being forced to work 60 hrs/wk is ever going allow "stunning brilliance unlocked by stress". The workforce is driven by profits and every worker is overhead, a drain on the fat wallets of the power elite.
S.

By: Bill Hanover

Bill Hanover — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 06:53:54 +0000

Great comments,

Here's something to consider related to workplace stress or home-life stress etc. When being stressed turns to anger (whether from a football game loss, or other) then we have a different issue.

Back during my psych training (years ago) my Psychologist mentor taught that anger is always a manifestation of fear and or hurt. I challenged him on that, but for more than 12 years I have been looking and haven't found an exception yet.

When workplace (or anyplace,) stress can bring on feelings of inadequacy and frustration it might be wise to examine if you are afraid or hurt in some way. I'll bet you'll find this connection most of the time.

.02 worth tonight ; – )

All the Best

By: Diana

Diana — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 03:01:48 +0000

Thanks for the links to the google blog on ergonmics. I also loved the link to the funky-looking keyboards. In my job, I use the keyboard (especially the number pad!) alot because one of our main operations programs is DOS-based (groooaaan). I try to interupt keyboarding-based activites as often as possible with other activities to give my wrist a break, but I still worry about RSIs.

I think another important thing to note is how profoundly workplace stress can infiltrate our personal lives outside of the actual workplace. Really stressful jobs stay with you all day… you're thinking about projects, reports, to-do lists, etc. all day, all evening, and it can often cause insomnia. A much healthier worker is one who can stop working when work is over for the day, and leave the office at the office. This is very hard to do for alot of people, but like you've said before, it is so crucial to have an active and interesting life outside of your job.

***

And as an almost *completely* unrelated sidenote, a thought struck me over the weekend about a prior post you made about the science of Happiness. I think a lot of sports fanatics (like lawyers!) are less happy because of the lack of control over they have over that area of their life. Team wins, they are exuberant; team loses, they are depressed and/or belligerant (mind you, I'm talking real *fanatics*). The subject came up while talking to my friend while watching a college football game. I love the Longhorns… it's great when they win and it sucks when they lose, but I don't let myself get really worked up over the team's wins or losses because I know that I have absolutely zero control over the tiny little people on the screen. It would stress me out way too much to put my future joy or sadness in the hands of something (or someone) over which I have no control. I think real athletes (actively pursuing their success/happiness) are probably much happier than the people who watch them on TV. Extrapolate. :)

By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 14:57:35 +0000

I think stress is pressure controlled by other people. Example: person A "thrives on pressure" and loves it. Her overcommittment leads her to make incessant requests for work from persons B, C, D, ETC. Persons B-ETC are stressed.

By: CrankMama

CrankMama — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 02:55:11 +0000

Good points about working from home. I find my stress level much more manageable when I go to the office… If I try and catch up on things at home, I never get a break.

I like things "lively" but NEVER stressful.

Rachael

By: Penelope Trunk

Penelope Trunk — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 15:55:14 +0000

Thanks for making that distinction, Wendy. I think rising to the occasion because the situation is very important (pressure) is much more high-functioning that getting things done because you backed yourself to a wall where there's no more procrastinating (stress). The latter situation makes a person's life out of control in terms of time management, even if performance is solid.

By: Wendy

Wendy — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 15:06:53 +0000

Interesting post. Perhaps you could write about the difference between "stress" and "pressure" as many people probably use the two words interchangably. For example, perhaps people who say they thrive under "stress" are really saying they work best under pressure. From your comments, it sounds like you're that way. I know I am, and I think many successful people are as well.

When the money is on the line or when the client is in the room or when a large audience awaits every word many people can suddenly pull off a much better performance than in their day-to-day, less pressure filled existence. In another example, many pro athletes are famous for finding an extra gear during the playoffs — which is performing under pressure when it really counts.

Performing well under pressure is probably tough to do if you're stressed.