Work-life balance: building resiliency to improve your health

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Statistics Canada suggests that one in four workers are highly stressed. In the working world of today – expectations of doing more with less, blurred boundaries of work and home due to technology and uncertain economies – what can you do to  reduce stress at work and increase job satisfaction? The key lies in developing healthy work-life balance and resiliency.

What causes workplace stress? 

Anxiety and stress at work can be the result of one particular factor, or many smaller issues that build up into a situation that feels out of your control, such as:

• Demanding superiors
• Dysfunctional work team or difficult coworkers
• Long hours
• Boredom or work that is too intense
• Unrealistic expectations
• Bad job fit
• Little control over work, decisions or work environment
• Worry about home life while at work

When consistently dealing with these types of challenges, with seemingly little or no possibility for resolution, some individuals move from feeling overwhelmed to feeling ineffective, detached and exhausted. While everybody responds differently to stress, why are some people more successful at managing and preventing burnout than others?

It’s all about resiliency

Highly resilient people thrive in conditions of constant change – they are flexible, sociable, creative and learn from experience. When hit by major setbacks, they do not withdraw or complain about life being unfair; instead, they manage to land on their feet and often end up stronger than ever. However, building resiliency can be challenging, so it is important to persevere if things do not seem to be improving right away.

Interested in building your resiliency? Find more helpful resources here >

The Canadian Mental Health Association has also put together some tips to help you bounce back from adversity:

Reach out to others. Dealing with stress and anxiety can be challenging, especially if you feel like you are alone. Asking for help can allow you to lighten the load. A loyal network of people – trusted family members, friends or colleagues – may provide you with the support you need as you try to manage your stress at work.

Speak to your supervisor/manager. While some people are reluctant to discuss these issues with their supervisor or manager, these people cannot support you if they do not know that there is a problem. Ask for a meeting to discuss your challenges, request their input or guidance, and review any solutions that you feel may be practical.

Use your Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP). EFAPs are confidential programs created to help employees and their family members. You will have access to a wide range of services and programs that can help you manage stress, improve communication at work, build your career and balance the priorities of work and home. There is no cost to use your EFAP.

Need to reach your EFAP? Chat with a counsellor now, using the orange First Chat icon >

Embrace change. While change can present challenges, it can also reveal opportunities you might never have discovered. Instead of concentrating on the disruptive aspects, take a flexible approach and focus on the exciting "element of the unknown" that change can bring to your life.