Women with long work hours—averaging 60-hour workweeks over the span of three decades—triple the risk for diabetes, cancer, arthritis, and heart trouble. Whereas men working the same amount remain relatively unaffected. One possible reason is that women who have long work hours have additional stressors because they often take on the majority of familial responsibilities.
Setting work boundaries may be a difficult thing to do because we are so worried about what others may think. However, once we set them we gain peace of mind and start to work on important things versus trivial things. To set boundaries, listen to your gut to determine what you are comfortable with. Then create and communicate your limits…and stick to them.
Thank goodness alternative stress reducers are keeping pace with stressors, even stressors you may be overlooking. Take a couple of minutes to massage your ears and help relieve yourself of those horrible stress hormones. Learn other alternative stress reducers and unexpected stress creators.
