Work place stress

Have you ever had a really stressful day at work? Now be honest. It is interesting - I have found in what I do, some days you just can't do anything wrong and, if you are fortunate, you will have very few high stress days at the office.

Here are some interesting facts from an IPSOS-Reid poll on stress-related incidents in the Canadian workforce:

12% of employees have kicked or hit the photocopier;

30% seriously wanted to;

30% are more likely to hit it if they have a post secondary education;

They are twice as likely to hit the photocopier if they are affluent;

40 km per year is the distance employees walk to the printer/photocopier.

(Those polled include just as many women as men)

I would hate to ask stats on printers! Unlike the Maytag man, the Xerox repair guys are busy dealing with the fallouts.

For every problem there is someone out there who is making a living. Workplace stress is a $300 billion a year problem within the corporate world, from stress related illness to lack of productivity. Thank goodness there are lots of thick skinned photocopiers hanging around the office. The key is to find one in a slightly dark, low traffic zone - and please don't use black shoes! In my opinion, it is better than kicking your boss or co-worker. You would most likely have to explain that one.

Here are some healthier ways to deal with your work stress:

1. Time out: Sometimes you need to get away from the office for a bit.

2. Read Dilbert: Scott Adams has an amazing way to put work into perspective.

3. Talk: It is a great way to get it out of your system and not carry the frustration.

4. Exercise: A proven way to reduce your blood pressure and work out the frustrations.

5. Get a dog: They keep everything in perspective.

Send me your stress stories (good and bad) at alan@careerjoy.com. We will have a draw for a copy of The Canadian Job Search Kit.

If you are feeling the itch to go a couple of rounds with the machine next door, give us a call. It's never too late to have a happy, low stress career!

This week's 10 Minute WORKout:

Get down to your favorite coffee hangout and treat yourself to a double stress free, non boss,extra long break!

Along the road with you,

Alan Kearns