Lifestyle Reality Check Workshop

The date of my workshop (see three items earlier than this one) in Sydney has been put back one day to Thursday 4 March. For people in Sydney this is a wonderful opportunity to do what some of my clients call a "lifestyle reality check". In other words it's a great opportunity to simply drop out for half a day and enjoy doing a self-check lifestyle audit under enjoyably relaxing structured conditions.

For more details go to http://www.workleisure.com/Workshop.html

I am also researching the idea of offering the workshop online. If this interests you, let me know at peter@workleisure.com (no obligation).

Enjoy Doing Nothing

We all look forward to doing nothing over the coming holidays. Lazing around and taking it easy will soon be all the go. It’s the time of year when we respect, value and enjoy doing nothing, to refresh and refuel our mental energy.

Why then does ‘doing nothing’ get such bad press for the rest of the year? – “time-wasting, irresponsible, slacking off, non-achieving and counter-productive”? If a car was refueled once a year, it would be
useless for most of the year. People’s mental energy needs are far more complex.

For most of us ‘doing nothing’ actually means doing something we love, simply because we enjoy it. You will have in mind all sorts of enjoyable interests to pursue during your holidays. Such interests are vital throughout the year if we want to sustain our mental energy.

Make sure you enjoy ‘doing nothing’ in the coming weeks. But remember, over the rest of the year you will always do something better if sometimes you do nothing.

Wishing you a mentally-relaxing holiday season and the sustained energy to thrive in 2010,

This message may be freely distributed through your network

Stress Statistics Occupational Health

I recently came across this article. If it interests you, go to my website page at http://www.workleisure.com/corporate/stressManagement.html to consider my approach to helping companies resolve this sort of issue.

Staying@Work Report

The 2009/2010 Staying@Work report found that despite the recession, while many companies have not slashed employee health and productivity programs, they have not dealt specifically with those aforementioned stress factors. Here's a snapshot of employers who were surveyed.

• 78% of employers said excessive work hours was a leading stress monger, but just 21% say they are addressing it.

• 68% of employers cited lack of work/life balance as stress producer, but only 38% say they are taking action to combat it.

• 67% of employers said employees' fear of job loss lead to an uptick in stress, but only 41% of employers say they are taking steps to deal with that concern.

“Not only are stressed workers less productive, they are also likely to incur higher health costs for themselves and their employer,” said Helen Darling, president of the National Business Group on Health. “Companies most effective at mitigating the impact of stress are moving in the right direction — helping employees become more efficient while working to lower benefit costs and strengthen balance sheets.”

A Closer Psychological Look

The American Psychological Association's newest 2009 Stress in America Survey found that while 7 in 10 Americans were suffering with stress due to money, 69% of respondents reported stress resulting from work. Riding into the holidays, that stress takes on a new high. "According to our survey three quarters of adults in this country already report moderate to high levels of stress," says psychologist Katherine Nordal, PhD, APA's executive director for professional practice. "The holiday season can bring with it additional emotional and financial stressors that can negatively impact both physical and mental health."

The Long Term Global Perspective

The same workplace stress story is echoed throughout the world. Nearly six in 10 workers in key global economies experienced a rise in workplace stress over the last two years, according to a global survey by Australian workplace consultant firm, The Regus Group. It's Regus Business Tracker survey 11,000 people in 13 countries about their workplace experience during the recession.

The most significant stress hike was reported in China, where 86% reported an uptick. The lowest increase in stress was felt in the Netherlands and Germany, with 47% and 48% respectively reporting a rise.

Wrong Way! Go Forward

For many of us, our stress stems from having made work and life choices that now don’t suit

our constantly changing lives. You might see a sign along your life's road saying:

Wrong Way! Go Forward

You can't go back on past life choices. You can only stay where you are, or go forward and find

a different focus, one that allows the real you to follow your passions.

How well does your current lifestyle reflect your true inner feelings and passions?

Enjoy doing your own positive re-assessment, focusing on the passions that bring your life alive,

at my next -

Lifestyle Review workshop

9.00 am – 1.00 pm Wedneday 3 March 2010

North Sydney Leagues Club, 12 Abbott Street Cammeray NSW

"A fantastic workshop! Peter, your work is really important and you're very easy to work with" L Martin June 2009

Further information is available at http://www.workleisure.com/Workshop.html