Headed for Burnout? It’s Time to Build Some Fences

One of the most important ways to reduce stress is to keep roles separate.

(PRWEB) November 10, 2005 -- For a lot of people, climbing to the top of the corporate ladder is a stressful experience. And much of that stress is caused by allowing work life to creep into personal life, according to Dr. David Weiman, a management psychologist in suburban Philadelphia, PA (www.weimanconsulting.com).

“It happens slowly and over time,” Weiman explains. “But soon, the pressure to succeed leads to eating at your desk to save time, taking work home, talking business on your cell phone when you’re putting your kids to bed. It’s a vicious cycle.”

Weiman, who is also on the psychology faculty of Widener University, presents seminars and works with individuals on reducing stress as they work their way to the top of their careers. He is also the author of the book The Stress Solution. He says the key to reducing stress is putting better boundaries around work and non-work activities, and he gives these suggestions:

1) Eat lunch out. Even a brief break will help avoid eating while stressed.

2) Don’t bring work home. Start delegating more to others, and look for ways to streamline processes.

3) Take vacations. Many overstressed people don’t take a clean break from work, but this is a mistake. Vacations restore both mind and body.

4) Keep work and personal e-mail separate. Don’t check work e-mail during non-work hours.

5) Don’t use your personal cell phone for work. It may seem complicated, but keeping one cell phone strictly for work will help separate work and personal calls.

”They say good fences make good neighbors,” says Weiman, “And good boundaries make for a good life. The more people keep their work and personal lives separate, the better they’ll be able to enjoy and succeed in both.”

About Dr. David Weiman

Dr. David Weiman is a management psychologist and author of the business book The Stress Solution: How to Win in Business without Sacrificing in Life (www.weimanconsulting.com/stress_solution.htm).

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