Getting the balance right - Isle of Man Today

Isle of Man Examiner, May 2005 Businessupdate3ISSUEMAY focusWORK-LIFE BALANCEStress managementOne of the symptoms of a lack of work-life balance is stress. It cantake many forms that are unique to each individual, but whateverform it takes the common factor will be a negative effect on yourpersonal and professional life. Nick Yates talks to Pat Heggs fromthe Island’s mental health service about stress management.K C M YMost people believe thatstress in isolation isnegative, but in realitythe right level of stress is actually a healthything. Eustress is the form of stress thathelps you get up in the morning and drivesyou through the day. When that level ofmotivational stress becomes too much, itturns into distress and starts to affectphysical and emotional wellbeing.Mrs Heggs says that work, as one of thebiggest factors in a person’s life, has animportant role to play in making sure thebalance doesn’t tip from healthy eustressinto distress.She say: ‘It is about equilibrium andbalance, but life events can tip that balance.Some individuals, often those who give a lotof themselves, can be overwhelmed by lifeevents, it might be a bereavement or anissue surrounding divorce or separation.Equally problems can occur at work. Peoplewith different personalities in an office canmean two individuals don’t get on. Somepeople like their own personal space, theyneed things around them that feel secure. Ifthat space is then eroded, that can bethreatening to them.’Mrs Heggs coaches and supports civilservice workers through her department,but says the coping strategies can beapplied to any lifestyle.‘We try to get people to put everythinginto perspective, to look at themselves fromoutside as a fly on the wall. We try toremove negative thoughts, that demon onthe shoulder that says negative things aboutyou. It is about controlling your mind andyour thoughts and looking at life through aglass that is half full not half empty. We getpeople to change their conversation — ifthey are using justs and buts it is a negativemindset.’She says that organisations can play a bigrole in reducing stress by helping staff to bepositive about themselves and their work.‘It is about the way the organisationoperates from within. If an individual feelsrespected and valued, that will have animpact. If there is not a level of concern forstaff and they are dehumanised then thatwill have an effect. There is a jointresponsibility. As an individual you haveresponsibility to look after your own healthbut you also need an environment that isfree from bullying or victimisation.’She believes that many people who feeloverwhelmed or frightened at work arefearful of talking about it with the rightpeople.‘If the workload is too much the bestperson to speak to is your manager becausethey can devise a way to help, rather thanjust going off sick. People are frightened ofsaying they have a problem. If you have abroken arm you get it fixed, stress is thesame.’She added that a small community suchas the Isle of Man can, ironically, createworse stress because people experiencingstress feel they have nowhere to hide andsuffer from paranoia that wouldn’t be thecase in a big city.’PAT HEGGS: It is about equilibrium and balance JM: 050427/77