Dont Butter the Toast

1
Dont Butter the Toast!

• Cathy Nicholson, SPHR
• Director, HR_at_AHSC
• Department of Human Resources
• March 17, 2006

2
Can I really be all things to all people without
losing my mind?

• Can I achieve
• A successful work life that rewards me with a
  challenging, rewarding career?
• A peaceful, satisfying and fulfilling home life?
• A dedication to lifelong learning that stimulates
  my intellect?
• A healthy lifestyle that sustains both my body
  and spirit?

3
Why, yes, I can!
4
The truth is

• A study released by FWI in 2005, Overwork in
  America When the Way We Work Becomes Too Much
  reports that one in three American employees are
  chronically overworked, while 54 have felt
  overwhelmed at some time in the past month by how
  much work they had to complete.

5

• The fast-paced, global 24/7 economy and
  technology have blurred the traditional
  boundaries between work life and home life.
• The new economy calls for new skillsresponding
  quickly to competing demands and jumping from
  task to task.
• 1990 studies by Daniel J. Conti from Bank One and
  Wayne Burton from Northwestern Medical School
  found that depressive disorders within the
  workplace were much higher than anticipated and
  were associated with the highest medical plan
  costs of all behavioral health disorders.
• In 1999, NIOSH reported that because the nature
  of work is changing at whirlwind speed, perhaps
  now, more than ever, job stress poses a threat to
  the health of workers, and in turn, to the health
  of organizations.
• In 2000, the WHO reported that by 2020, clinical
  depression is expected to outrank cancer and
  follow only heart disease to become the 2nd
  greatest cause of death and disability worldwide.

6
Personal Outcomes

• Only 6 who experience lower levels of personal
  burdens are highly stressed compared with 36 of
  those who are highly burdened.
• Only 8 of those with low overwork levels have
  high levels of depressive symptoms compared with
  21 of those who are highly overworked.
• Fifty-two percent of employees experiencing high
  overwork levels report that their health is good
  versus 65 of those experiencing low overwork
  levels.
• Only 41 of employees who experience high
  overwork levels say they are very successful in
  taking good care of themselves versus 68 of
  those experiencing low overwork levels.

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How Are Employees Work Life Priorities Related
to Being Overburdened?

• Employees who are family-centric (putting a
  higher priority on family than on work) or
  dual-centric (putting an equivalent priority on
  family and work) are less likely to be
  overstressed than employees who are work-centric.
• (Duh.)

8
Some different experts say

• From Entrepreneurship in America and
  Hereinc.com
• Many entrepreneurs note, business success is
  most often brought about by a healthy, balanced
  lifestyle.

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6 Steps to Getting a Life

• STEP 1 Learn to Say No to non-essential tasks.
• STEP 2 Focus on Key Tasks by identifying the
  issues that have a high impact and he devoting
  your limited time to those.
• STEP 3 Delegate, Delegate, Delegate!

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• STEP 4 Redefine Yourself so that your work isnt
  who you are, but what you do. "I wanted to be a
  broader person."
• STEP 5 Make Personal Commitments Concrete by
  putting personal enrichment and family activities
  on a to do list.

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• STEP 6 Kick Back!
• Plan for your freedom.
• Make a public commitment.
• Do an activity assessment.

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The Real Experts!

• Kay, age 85, retired R.N., single parent of 2
• Mary Beth, age 83, retired school teacher, single
  parent of 1
• Dorothy, age 79, retired music teacher, parent of
  4
• Doris, age 81, retired accountant, parent of 3
• Bette, age 82, retired homemaker and community
  volunteer, mother of 5

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Kay says

• Dont butter the toast!
• A glass of wine on the porch is always a good
  thing.
• Take one thing at a time.

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Mary Beth says

• I dont know how I did it. I just took one day
  at a time. Isnt that what we all do?
• Eat lots of fiber.
• Walk every day.

15
Dorothy says

• Decide whats really important and make lists
  (hint its not work, and more is not better!)
• Rely on friends. Thats what theyre there for
  for you to use!
• Laugh its good for you.

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Doris says

• Go to temple or your church. Your soul is
  important!
• Save a little money every week and go on a nice
  vacation. And once in a while leave the kids!
• A hot soak helps tired feet. And a childs hug
  can cure a headache its true!

17
Bette says

• I recommend a short scotch on the rocks before
  dinner.
• The busier you are, the more you need a nap.
• Volunteer it makes you feel good to help others.

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Keys to a Whole (Lotta) Life

• Every day, a little of this and a little of that
• Eat
• Breathe
• Move
• Love
• Think
• Sing
• Strike the right balance