ARE YOU REALLY WORKING TOO HARD?

Many tense, anxious people today blame their problems on the so-called modern rat race. They argue that they are caught up in that rat race, Coping Effectively / 325 that the demands upon them are excessive, that they simply have to work too hard. 

Many investigators believe-and we agree with them-that overwork is rarely the reason for emotional problems. More often the problem lies, as one physician experienced in industrial medicine puts it, with creating a rat race of one's own. Actually, half a century ago, people worked longer hours than now. But they also lived a different kind of life. 

Today, too many people only ride; they move about little on their own two feet. With food and drink readily available, they consume to excess. With TV readily at hand, they take their leisure passively and get little of the stimulation, both mental and physical, that active games and good conversation can provide. If you find yourself tense, you may do well to consider your whole living pattern as well as job situation. 

Everybody needs to get intimately acquainted with the most important person in the world-himself. He needs to know, clearly, how he reacts to various foods, to smoking, to drinking; he needs to know what actually his own individual requirements for exercise and relaxation are. In one survey on tension among business executives, it was found that those who complained of excessive tension-13 percent of the total number-shared a long list of undesirable health habits.

The tense men ate breakfast on the fly, in less than 5 minutes; bolted their lunch (15 minutes); hurried through dinner (under 30 minutes). They got no form of regular exercise; tended to have few civic, church or other extracurricular activities and interests; many had no hobby at all. Many got six or less hours sleep a night; few had weekends free for themselves and their families; and any vacations taken were much below average in length. 

Most were heavy smokers; many drank excessively; most used sedatives to induce sleep and tranquilizers to quiet their nerves. Often, an overly tense person, if he can make an adjustment in his living habits on his own or with the advice and help of his physician, may need to do no more.