Are You Working Too Much?

A recent study, reported in the European Heart Journal (May 2010), has followed the health of more than 10,000 civil servants since 1985.

And they conclude that working too much is bad for your heart (as well as a whole lot of other things I might add!)

Their research shows a 60% increase in heart related illness such as non fatal heart attacks and angina in those who work three hours or more longer than a normal 7 hour day. One or two hours overtime made no difference.

They cite several possible reasons why this might be so. It could be that people who regularly work longer hours are type As, classified as aggressive, competitive, and very time conscious; prime candidates for heart disease. Another factor could be psychological distress, such as depression, anxiety, lack of sleep, or not relaxing enough before sleep. They may also be the type to carry on regardless, even though they feel unwell.

The study was done exclusively on white collar workers in the public sector so may not hold true for everyone.

But the message is clear. Don’t let work run your life, rather let it be part of your life in your control. And if you find work is making you feel stressed and anxious on a regular basis , do something about it! Talk to someone at work, consider a different job, change your attitude towards to work, take back control. Don’t let your career run you, It’s YOUR career, take charge!

Men in Touch with Their Feminine Side?

Although I write primarily for women I actually do have quite a few male readers and subscribers, which is great.

However, when it comes to careers and work, men are usually much more adversarial and risk taking in their approach (according to the research!). Women will often wait until they know their current job inside out before applying for the next step up.

Book

So when I wrote my book on finding your dream job (even if the dream was not to have a ‘proper’ job) I aimed it primarily at women, and their responses have been overwhelmingly positive.

However, on checking the statistics of the downloadable version of the book, I find that at least 20% of the sales are from men. In some ways this is surprising as it isn’t a book focussed on getting ahead, but on finding a job that works for you, a job that sits well with your value base, and that you enjoy going to each day – when work really isn’t working but something you actually enjoy!

Softer Side

Of course, it is possible they may just be buying it for their partners, but I like to think they are looking beyond the traditional gender barriers and getting in touch with their softer side!

If you’d like to download yourself a copy, click here.

Reasons to Take Charge of Your Career!

1. Research shows that successful people are ‘career resilient’; they take charge of their own learning and development and are ready to reinvent themselves to keep pace with change.

2. What used to work for you may work no longer. Assuming that if you keep on doing what you’ve always done will still be good enough is dangerous.

Doing what you’ve always done will produce the same results and now you want different results! So get ready to do something different.

3. Some managers are better than others at developing people. You cannot rely on getting a good one. Be your own manager and take responsibility for developing yourself!

4. You may have several different types of career/businesses in a lifetime- young professional to homemaker to part time, second income earner, to professional woman to international entrepreneur perhaps?

5. You are likely to be working for longer as demographics change, retirements ages alter, and attitudes towards being older improve.

6. There are still great jobs out there but you will need to find them (or invent them) for yourself.

Chose now to take control of your working life. Take control of your own career and don’t rely on anyone else to do it for you. No one cares about it as much as you do, however helpful they may be.

You spend hours upon hours of your life at work so make sure you are living those hours as you really want to live. Live and work consciously; don’t let  it just be something you do to fill the time from 9 to 5. This is YOUR life. Take control of it and fulfill your potential!

This is an extract from my book ‘When Work isn’t Working’ You can download it immediately by clicking the link or order a signed paperback copy here

When Work Isn’t Working!

Hope you like the title of my new book (pictured above)! I am currently basking in the glow of finishing it and seeing the finished article. It’s a great feeling to finish a big project, isn’t it?

Coaching Prompts

The book is full of the successful advice and exercises I’ve used through the years when coaching. One of the issues that surfaces time and time again is women telling me “I hate my job but I don’t actually know what I want to do instead.”

If that sounds like you then this will help. It’s a workbook crammed full of my tried and tested exercises to get you thinking creatively about your future – whatever age you are!

Actual and Virtual

It will soon be available as an actual book, sent courtesy of the Post Office, or as an instant download to your computer.  Details coming soon. I’m really looking forward to hearing what you think about it!