We love work because it gives us all that we need to live a better life. Work does not only make us bread-earners for our family, but it also earns us recognition in the society. Work is worship. But at the same time, we are becoming victims of work-related bad habits. Work might put our lives at stake and this is the growing concern in today's scenario. Let's see how our work can cut our life span short:
1. Sitting for Prolonged Period in the Same Position
Today's jobs are sedentary in nature and these require us to sit for long hours in the same position. This not only makes us suffer from stiffness and body pain, but can also cause more serious conditions. Remaining glued to the chair and being served with ready meals can be an active cause of heart diseases and diabetes. It is definitely not a healthy practice to sit for long hours with your eyes fixed at computer screens or the cell phones gelled to your ears!
Solution: You should make it a point to get up from your seat and move around for some time in between your work. During the lunch break, you can go outside and move around to breathe in some fresh air.
2. Lack of Adequate Sleep at Night Due to Work Tension
Stress in the work area produces hidden effects as well. Our mind remains in an ever-busy mode and we cannot sleep at night. Either we become a total insomniac or we suffer several interruptions during sleep. Again, when we are required to work in different shifts, our body and mind cannot adjust to these changes and we do not get adequate sleep. We opt for the sleep medications and this further takes us closer to our death.
Solution: You should leave behind the work related matters in your office only. Bringing them home would only give you sleepless nights! You should make sure that you get an uninterrupted sleep for six to eight hours per day. If stress is keeping you awake at night on a regular basis, you may want to seek professional help.
3. Lack of Paying Adequate Attention While Driving
Communication technologies have observed pronounced advancements over these years. This has added flexibility in our work practices. With the advent of mobile phones, smart phones and personal digital assistants, it has now become possible for us to carry on with our work at any location and at any point of time. But we adapt the malpractice of using these communication methods while driving. Statistics reveal that there has been an increase in the rate of lethal accidents caused by drivers who were using cell phones or sending text messages while driving over these years.
Solution: While driving, put down your phone and avoid taking calls even with a hands-free device.. The work can wait, but situations cannot be reversed.
4. Not Enjoying the Work Life Due to a Hostile Work Environment
Over these years, many studies have been attempting to establish a relation between a worker's physical and mental health and the conditions in his workplace. It has been found that a hostile work atmosphere can prove to be dangerous for the worker's health and can considerably shorten his life.
Solution: You are responsible for maintaining a positive environment in your workplace. This can be achieved by establishing better communications with the supervisors and the colleagues. This can also improve the morale in the work atmosphere. If nothing works out as such, then you can consider having a talk with the human resources department to find a legal remedy to control hostility in the workplace.
5. Extending Work for Extra Hours
We are often asked to work overtime or contribute additional hours to work by our supervisors. We cannot say, "No" to them because of job insecurity or due to fear of offending them. But studies have shown that those who work for 10 to 11 hours a day stand at a greater risk of heart diseases and premature death.
Solution: Sometimes your work may demand extra commitment from your side and you may need to stay back at the office for an extended time. But you can still manage to maintain a proper schedule. You can avail policies such as the "flexible timing" to avoid working overtime.
6. Lack of Job Security in Today's Job Scenario
Loss of a job is one of the most challenging points in one's life and if this situation comes over to us, we tend to suffer from intense tension and lack of self confidence. We feel that our dreams have been shattered forever and we cannot see the road ahead. This mental tension shortens our life. Moreover, today's economic climate invokes a feeling of job insecurity. We feel that someday and any day we might lose our jobs. This feeling creeps up day by day as situations become tougher and this is enough to take away a few years from our lives.
Solution: This is not a very easy situation, but persons undergoing such a situation should invest in their own well-being rather than pondering about what has gone wrong.
7. Getting Exposed to Risky Conditions in the Workplace
Some of the occupations carry the risk of health hazards. People working in chemical plants, nuclear plants and various other manufacturing concerns are exposed to risky situations. Some of the risk factors go unnoticed and can cause serious injuries or even death of an individual.
Solution: For some jobs, working in dangerous situations is just a fact of life and what we can do is to adhere to the health and safety standards of the industry by practicing recommended ways of performing the risky jobs. This includes the use of masks, jackets and protective gear while handling risky jobs.
