stress: part of our new normal

“Always-On” Culture

During a recent Zoom seminar on Career Management, our lecturer asked the group how stressed we were at work. Everyone in the group reported medium to high stress. Upon further discussing the stress levels, we realized that, particularly in Singapore, there is a sense of false pride in being stressed and constantly busy. As a result, statements such as "I'm so busy lah" "I have so much work, cannot meet” have become part of our culture.

We have created a society where being constantly stressed, working, and burnt out is part of the new normal.

 But what is Stress?

In short, stress is a natural response by our body to put us into the Fight-and-Flight mode, our biologically embedded survival system.

Our sympathetic nervous system increases our heart rate, energy, and blood pressure. Our body prepares itself for dangerous threats and is ready to react. This dates back to our time when we humans used to live in caves and fought for survival from dangerous predators.

The difference between cave dwellers and our modern society: cave dwellers had time to rest.

When we rest, our body’s parasympathetic nervous system is switched on and places our body into what we call the Rest-and-Digest mode. Our body redirects the energy supply to bodily functions such as digestion and puts us in a relaxed state of being.

Resting, therefore, is a crucial part of our physical well-being.

The stressful reality

According to a study by CIGNA, 92% of Singaporeans feel stressed, and 80% of people in Asia confessed that their workplace has an “always-on” culture.

The advancements in technology have connected us constantly. Working from home arrangements have blurred the lines between your personal oasis and your office. Working from home is turning home into work. We physically have brought more stress stimuli into our personal space. The slightest ping of an email notification can put our body into alert mode. Constant stress can lead to anxiety and depression. Furthermore, a sustained state of stress affects our memory and causes premature aging. Research by the University of California found that stress weakens the cell structure and therefore cellular regeneration.

 Have you ever looked at some people and been surprised that they looked older than they are?

A stressful life affects us overall. Truly from the inside out.

 Many organizations have implemented wellness support programs to enhance employees' well-being. Yet, more than half of Singaporean women feel that the support is still not enough. Continuous stress can manifest into an ultimate burnout. Mercer's Global Talent Report 2022 indicates that burnout and employee exhaustion are the second highest-rated reasons that could hinder an organization's transformational strategy in 2022.

 In 2019, the WHO recognized occupational burnout as ‘a syndrome conceptualised as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed’.

Do you feel constantly exhausted and mentally distanced from your job?

Do you feel less productive and lack of motivation?

Do you feel detached, helpless, and defeated?

These are all signs of a burnout.

If no actions are taken, a burnout can manifest itself into mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and physical sicknesses such as insomnia, headaches, appetite changes, and gut problems.

Therefore, if our bodies spend more time in Fight-and-Flight and have less time to Rest-and-Digest, we create imbalances in our being and can develop physical severe diseases.

What can we do?

The first step is to become aware of the life that you lead. For example, is your job overwhelming your private life? Do you have people in your life that cause you to stress?

Stressful situations are common in our day-to-day lives, and a good dose of stress is even healthy such as getting out of your comfort zone and trying new experiences.

The key is to identify the cause of harmful stress be aware of how it makes you feel. Once you are aware, then meaningful change can happen.

 Change your routine, speak to your boss at work, spend more time in nature, manage your time more efficiently. Of course, as individuals, we all live different lives, and no approach works for all. Nonetheless, consistent positive changes to your life will compound into a more positive outcome.