Stress Management--Getting the Better of the Daily Grind

There are many kinds of daily grinds. In the U.S. Corporate world today, to be busy working 12-16 hours a day is a sign of importance and ambition. The more time you spend at your job, the more you are envied-the harder you work, the higher you rise up the corporate ladder.

Somehow we've gotten this work thing all wrong. Originally, work was not intended to be a grind, where we are crushed, pressed, mashed, and pounded into completing tasks and satisfying responsibilities. It was intended to be an object of pleasure, enjoyment, and fulfillment.

The Work Relationship

People play an essential part in any business. The activity they engage in is called work. Work occupies about one-third to one-half of our lives; therefore, we must exercise diligence and care when establishing work relationships.

Diligence is at the heart of the work relationship. Those who work are called employees or workers, and those who manage or oversee these workers are called leaders or bosses. The work relationship is somewhat symbiotic. Bosses and workers co-exist for mutual benefit based upon certain conditions, promises and agreements with one another. As a result, the work relationship can be severed when either the boss or worker takes advantage of or hurts the other. A failure to live up to the agreement will cause the boss to terminate or fire the worker, or the worker to quit or resign from the boss. In fact, employee survey research has consistently shown that the number one reason why workers leave a company is poor boss quality.

Making The Work Relationship Succeed

  • Respect. Bosses and workers must acknowledge and show consideration and respect for each other.

  • Trust. Both workers and bosses must learn to trust so that challenges and obstacles may be overcome.

  • Interpersonal Communication. Bosses and workers are to communicate with each other in ways that promote mutual understanding.

  • Collaboration. Workers and bosses are to cooperate with one another and use collaborative ways to solve problems and make decisions.

  • The Benefit of the Doubt. Bosses and workers are to practice "2S1Q" (slow to speak and become angry; quick to listen), and to refrain from prematurely passing judgment on each other.

Finding Happiness In Your Work

There is more to work than just paying your dues from nine to five working out the daily grind. So, if you're going to spend an average of eight to twelve hours exerting energy on a task or two, you must find ways to enjoy it! Here are a few:

  • Choose to delight in your work. It's important to have a positive attitude towards work and reject a critical and complaining one. This means you must make a deliberate choice to be satisfied with your work. There are no perfect jobs because there are no perfect people. It is unrealistic to believe that the grass will be greener in another department or company. Job satisfaction involves choosing to commit to and be in harmony with your work by consistently carrying out your duties and responsibilities. Remember that work is a prime developer of your character and ability to successfully interact with others in society.

  • Never stop learning and acquiring new skills. Do your work with wisdom, knowledge and competence by keeping skill levels sharp and fresh. Don't wait for the company to provide opportunities for professional development. Instead, take responsibility for your own training and career growth by investing time and resources in further education and skill acquisition.

  • Work smart as well as hard. Hard work can give meaning and purpose to life. When you work hard, you use your whole being-mind, body, and spirit. Working hard includes a total focus of personality, skill, and intellect-all parts of the body working in harmony to accomplish a task. You know that you have worked hard, when at the end of the task, there is a balanced result of sweet exhaustion and satisfaction of completion.

    • Do you want lasting solutions to handle stress and maintain successful work relationships? Then re-ignite your enthusiasm for your job, restart your relationship with your boss, and re-invigorate your career.

    Althea DeBrule, entrepreneur and seasoned human resources executive, has focused for more than 30 years on helping people achieve their career goals. Creator of The Extreme-Career-Makeover? and a founding partner of RADSGroup Organizational Consultants, she is recognized for her bottom line and practical application of career development and management strategies in a way that penetrates hearts and compels action. She speaks and teaches with inspired talent, humor and contagious zeal at management conferences and leadership retreats nationwide, and has been featured in CFO Magazine, Strategy@Work, Human Resource Executive Magazine. Althea is the author of Bosses & Orchards, a compelling and candid book about how to make your work relationship with your boss succeed. To discover how you can take your career to a new level, visit http://www.extreme-career-makeover.com/

    In The News:

    pen paper and inkwell


    cat break through


    How To Stress Less and Smile More-The Six Fundamental Steps To Improved Health

    More than two-thirds of visits to doctors' surgeries are for... Read More

    Stress Secrets: How To Remove Hidden Sources Of Stress

    Most people find it easy to identify the sources of... Read More

    Dont Be a Worry Wort!

    Everyone worries. As bothersome as it is, worry isn't all... Read More

    Dynamic Guide - How to Recharge Your Mind With A Refreshing Recreational Activity!

    Let's face it! The majority of our time is either... Read More

    Moving Through Breakdowns with Transformation

    Success in recovery, or rather, staying in recovery, is dependent... Read More

    Mindfulness and Panic: Ask Your Anxiety

    Panic.Heart racing. Palms sweating. Breathing rapid and shallow. Mouth dry.... Read More

    Stress Buster Tip: Relax From The Weekday Stack!

    Everyday can be full of stress but we all deserve... Read More

    Manage Stress and Fear: Visit The Secret Garden!

    Recently I completed some new workshop engagements in addition to... Read More

    Reduce Your Stress

    If you live in the early part of the twenty-first... Read More

    Music Therapy: Can Music Really Soothe The Savage Beast?

    It has long been suggested that "music soothes the savage... Read More

    Practical Ways to Bring Enchantment into Your Life

    THE ENCHANTED SELF® teaches you how to access positive states... Read More

    The Epidemic of the Eighties is Still Here

    IntroductionTime magazine called stress the "The Epidemic of the Eighties".... Read More

    Can You Say Yes To Less Stress

    A little stress is good for us until it becomes... Read More

    How Stressed Out Are You? Take This Quiz And See How You Rate On Your Stress Level!

    Stress, America's #1 health problem, is a leading cause of... Read More

    Mindfulness and Laughter: Gaining Clarity While Giggling

    Life is funny.Throughout the day, there are plenty of humorous... Read More

    The Physiology of Stress

    In the body, the stress response is mediated by the... Read More

    Stress Relief in Minutes

    For those who are suffering from stress, just about the... Read More

    Stress is a Killer?Will it get YOU?

    What good is Personal or Business Success...if your Health is... Read More

    Stress Managment and Mastery: 6 Stress Busting Tips

    In a hectic world, it's all too easy to reach... Read More

    Extreme Self-care: Make Time for Yourself

    If you've recently experienced loss or are going through a... Read More

    7 Healthy Ways To Release Holiday Stress

    Many people go through the motions during Christmas. If not... Read More

    Stress Management and Mastery: The Power of REST

    Rest.It's a good thing to do. As the story goes,... Read More

    Stress Relief for Busy Business People - 11 Easy Ways

    Make stress less of an issue for you in your... Read More

    Create Your Own Home Spa

    No need to go spend money at a spa! There... Read More

    Stress Managment and Mastery: Break the Rules!

    Of all the sources of stress in our lives, faulty... Read More

    Chastise Your Bread ? Kneading Dough is Excellent Stress Therapy

    The day wasn't going well already. You know how it... Read More

    Stress Management Shouldnt Create More Stress. 10 Ways To Reduce Unreasonable Stress and Boost Perf

    We all know that stress levels in the workplace are... Read More

    Why Stress Management Programmes Don?t Work

    Why Stress Management programmes don't work?It seems that every week... Read More

    Manage Stress By Focusing On Solutions And By Having A Laugh

    Marshal John Kruger acted by Arnold Schwarzenegger (who else) in... Read More

    Inner Space

    Every woman needs her own personal space for relaxation, not... Read More

    Control Stress or It Will Control Your Business

    When we think about stress in the workplace, we usually... Read More

    Deep Breathing ? How It Can Simultaneously Improve Health And Bring You Closer To Your Goals

    I hope by reading this article you will see the... Read More

    Stress Management: 5 More Things to Clean Out of Your Mental Closet

    ResentmentsA wise friend once said that holding onto resentments is... Read More