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. 

BASIC GUIDELINES to avoid work related stress-fatigue

STAYING WELL ON THE JOB 

Many companies today have highly organized safety programs and preventive industrial health programs. They employ both physicians and safety experts to direct these programs. Many also employ industrial hygienists to study the hazards of all jobs and develop criteria for safe operation. Safety equipment is specified for new machines and often added to existing ones. 

Workers are provided with safety goggles, safety shoes, and other protective devices. Still, even in these industries as well as in others which have not yet fully caught up with new trends in improvement of conditions of employment, preventable accidents and illnesses occur.

Different jobs, of course, have their individual health problems, and we will take these up after a look at some important basic rules that apply to virtually all work.

BASIC GUIDELINES

Come to work rested.

Fatigue has been shown repeatedly to be a major factor in accidents on the job. Plan your late-hour entertainment- dances, card parties, etc.-as much as possible for the nights before your days off from work. It's a good idea to avoid drinking alcoholic beverages after dinner any night, and especially on nights before work days. It doesn't take an outright hangover, just a feeling of moderate or slight upset and sluggishness, to invite trouble on the job. 

If you have a drinking problem, Beyond reasonable hours, regular periods of rest and relaxation are important. A day or two off each week, with a change of pace, is essential for avoiding mental and emotional as well as physical rundown. So is an annual vacation. Coming to the job fresh and invigorated-mentally, emotionally and physically-helps not only to greatly reduce the likelihood of accident and illness but also makes it possible for you to do a better job and create a better impression. It's important to note here that you should not ruin your days off by doing things to overtire yourself or otherwise affect your health.

Don't have any fears about being considered "prissy" if you make a point, as you certainly should, of finding out and following all safety rules that apply to your particular job. If you start on a new job, don't hesitate to do the obviously sensible thing: discuss precautions with your employer, foreman or other supervisor, and older workers. 

Ask questions, especially about any particular hazards. If a fellow worker is a danger to you or to others, take up the problem with those in authority. There is no room in any job, and especially a job involving any risks, for the practical joker. Every year, people are rushed to hospitals, dying or seriously injured, because "jokers" play- fully but cripplingly pushed a compressed air jet against them, worked a "hot foot" gag, or carried out some other "innocent" practical joke. 

Workers who insist on practical jokes or who don't know how to handle dangerous equipment properly are frequent causes of industrial accidents and deaths. Find out the location of the first-aid station or other nursing or medical facility. Many big plants now have full-time nursing and even medical staffs.