Why We All Experience Work Stress - Video

From the series "Adam Ruins Everything" is a segment called "Adam Ruins Work." This video validates everything you knew from your own personal experience about work and the propaganda CEOs and business owners have been shoveling down employees' throats to keep them working archaic hours, for less pay and more. A MUST SEE to validate your feelings of fatigue, resentment, work stress and more. And sometimes just having this confirmed can make you feel like you aren't the exception, but the rule!


While this video has been taken down from every place in the internet (boo TBS!), here is a list of the key points made in the video:

https://www.trutv.com/shows/adam-ruins-everything/blog/adams-sources/adam-ruins-work.html






See Stephanie's site Work Stress Solutions for more information like this.

Five Languages of Appreciation

Many of you have probably heard of the Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman. Since this book has a lot of religious references, it's not appropriate for the workplace.

But he has modified that problem with his latest work, "The Five Languages of Appreciation." He uses the same principles found in his earlier work and applies them to workplace scenarios.

I highly suggest this book, but if you prefer a quick summary, here's a great article:

Five Languages of Appreciation Article

See Stephanie's site Work Stress Solutions for more information like this.

Sleep Is Now a Suspicious Activity

I love to sleep. And with the regimented, unnatural insistence of our culture that we must get up at 6am and immediately work nine hours (eight hours plus lunch) and then go to bed at 11pm ---and no earlier--is not enough sleep for me (or most).

Six to ten hours was the medical message after a major sleep study in the 70’s. Authors and wellness types landed on the number '8' as a quick shorthand when talking about sleep requirements. Sleep can also be made up for. The initial report that this isn't possible has since been disproved many times. Simply notice your own attempt to catch up on your sleep on the weekends, or via naps, proves this false proclamation that continues to be accepted to this day.

When people sleep for more than eight hours we immediately label this activity as either insanity (depression) or lazy/fat person behavior (metabolic issues). Wow. Talk about shaming someone awake! Do you really need a playmate that badly?

Our culture shames people who attempt to care for themselves by catching up on sleep during the weekend...and you WILL indeed get lots of support when you say you sleep four to six hours a night. Unfortunately, that's the stuff of early heart and lung issues and mental health concerns. Sleep is never bad for you and is actually a time of deep healing on a physical, mental, emotional and cellular level. To cut it short is a recipe for disease and dis-ease.

Corporate America doesn't give a damn about you and your needs (haven’t you noticed?). Work more hours, answer emails at night, have your phone by your bed when you are asleep. Take caffeine (or something worse) and make each other guilty when you attempt to rest. Our Corporate America's goal? That you become a thing that is providing output for them for as many hours as possible.

I went to bed at 9pm last night (Friday) and woke up at 2pm this afternoon (Saturday). And I feel great right now. I needed to do this to catch up from my full time job that requires a lot from me. This job mandates that I wake up at a time that is not natural for me (7am).

I am now restored. I am neither lazy nor sad.

So please get off of the backs of your spouses, friends, roommates, coworkers, etc. Let people sleep! Take a cue from our beloved pets (who are ALWAYS happy and energetic): SLEEP.

Don’t just take my word for it. Here’s an article that shares all sorts of famous people you know who love to sleep. Penelope Cruz reports sleeping 12 hours a night. I would love to have that much sleep each and every day:

ARTICLE ON CELEBS WHO LOVE THEIR SLEEP.


See Stephanie's site Work Stress Solutions for more information like this.

Stress-Anxiety-Depression and When to See a Doctor

Another guest blogger this month! Olivia Thomas from FactDr.Com has provided a wonderful article on the causes and cures for stress and anxiety and depression.

Anxiety is just another way of saying FEAR and sometimes it's a good thing and sometimes it just happens for no apparent cause. This article (and the graphic below) will start the process of determining if you should medicate your free-floating anxiety. 'Better living through chemistry' is not taking a short cut or being weak. Our systems are bombarded by our environment like never before and our "old" bodies have not evolved enough to keep up. Do what you need to do to be your best self.

Are you depressed or just stressed? Know when to see a doctor by FactDr

See the full article by Olivia Thomas by clicking on the graphic above.

See Stephanie's site Work Stress Solutions for more information like this.

Depression Success Story: Guest Blogger

Depression Success Story: "I Altered My Subconscious Beliefs Using the Byron Katie Method" (By Guest Author Mollie Player)

Contributor: Mollie Player. Read her online serial, My Byron Katie Detox: One Year of Questioning Everything I Believe on mollieplayer.com. [here, link to: https://mollieplayer.com/2018/02/03/my-byron-katie-detox-one-year-of-questioning-everything-i-believe/ ]

The story of my depression starts way back in time, back to some of my first childhood memories. Since then I’ve made a great deal of progress–more than I once thought possible. But that doesn’t mean I don’t still have it.

Daily, there’s a routine: Get some exercise, some alone time. Take time to read and write and be with friends. Meditate as much as possible all throughout the day, and never, ever forget to be grateful.

Sleep well, and a lot. Eat healthy. Take medication. Stay busy. Get outside if you can. Take vitamin D, a multivitamin, a cold shower. Then get some more exercise, and meditate again.

Most of the time, this works. It’s work, but it works. So I continue on, and make slow progress. But recently I discovered two techniques that are speeding up my results: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Byron Katie’s The Work.

Elsewhere on my site I tell more about these techniques for overcoming depression–how to do them, why they work and how well. For this story, then, I’ll just add a few personal examples–particularly difficult thoughts the methods have helped me overcome.

Keep in mind that these are just some of the beliefs, not all, that have altered over the past few months using these processes.

1. My kids require too much attention. After doing The Work, this thought became: My kids require just the right amount of attention for them. And I require a lot of attention, too–and I get it. Also, much of the day I’m doing other things–cooking, cleaning, hanging out with friends. Things I’d do whether or not the kid were present.
2. I am sick of breastfeeding. This changed to: I am not sick of breastfeeding. It’s good for the kids. It’s nice downtime for me–I often get to read at the same time. Plus, it helped me lose my extra baby weight. It is a blessing for us all.
3. I am exhausted. This thought became: I’m not exhausted. I am not depleted of energy. There is a great deal of energy in my body for everything my body needs to do. I am thankful that my body notices when it’s time to sleep, and lets me know.

It’s an interesting process, this thought-altering work. Sometimes I can feel the change in my perspective right away. Other times, though, I only notice the change later, when the situation comes up again.

Every time I do it, part of me doubts it will work. Most of the time I’m surprised.

Byron Katie told me this would happen. I love her so much.

If you haven’t tried The Work yet, start here.

Mollie Player [link here to mollieplayer.com]

See Stephanie's site Work Stress Solutions for more information like this.

VooDoo Your Boss!

How can you improve employee morale? Give them a voodoo doll of the boss, study says.

"As part of the study, some employees were allowed to take out their job frustrations on a makeshift voodoo doll carrying their boss’s name by sticking pins, burning it with candles and pinching it with pliers."

This idea may seem silly, but I am betting it works.  Our subconscious delights in things like color, shine, music and silliness.  You may feel at some level a feeling of power and can then maintain your cool when you are face to face with your difficult coworker or boss.

Full Article on VooDoo Doll

Give it a try...what's the downside?

See Stephanie's site Work Stress Solutions for more information like this.