13 | O akville B eaver | T hursday,January 23,2020 insidehalton.com Advertising Section Oakville DentalArts 2001100 GGoollddd Awwaardww rrWWinneerr OaOaaakvkvillee eaverBeBeaver 1 7 • Th u rsd ay, O cto b er 20, 2011 O A K V ILLE B E A V E R • w w w .in sid e H A LTO N .co m The workers of the world are working more. So says an annual study of employee benefit trends from MetLife. In 2010, 40 percent of employees admitted their workload had increased compared with the previous year. While there are many reasons that can account for a heavier workload at the office, heavy layoffs in countries across the globe has, in many instances, left those who wweren't laid off with extra work. And companies might be surprised to know just how much this approach isn't work- ing. TheMetLife study also found that 68 percent of employ- ees surveyed reported that the quality of their work had suffered and that fear of losing their jobs played a significant role in how well they did their jobs. Good stress and bad stress While employees might not be able to quell their fears of one day being laid off, there are things they can do to reduce the stress that often accompanies such fears. Stress is a part of most professions and can even be a good motivator. However, when stress is prolonged or excessive, the results can be very unhealthy. Men and women with high stress levels are more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety and cardiovascular disease. When faced with prolonged or exces- sive stress at the office, men and women can take the follow- ing approaches to avoid succumbing to stress. * Determine what is causing the stress. Stress triggers vvary depending on the individual, so men and women who are coping with excessive stress should write down anything that causes them a negative response, whether that response is physical, emotional or mental. After a week, sit down and look at the various things that triggered these negative responses. Choose one and work to resolve it. Determine if there is a way this trigger can be avoided. Do this with each trigger one by one. It might not be possible to successfully address each trigger, but it's worth the try and it is likely that certain triggers can be successfully avoided. • Manage time effectively. One of the problems with an increased workload is the time in the day to complete that work does not simultaneously increase. This reality makes it easy to become overwhelmed with stress. But a few time management techniques can help. Prioritize certain tasks, fensuring projects that are time-sensitive get done ahead of those that aren't. When setting a schedule for work, be real- istic. If a schedule isn't realistic, that will only cause more stress. • Maintain a personal life. Effectively managing stress at work involves having a personal life away from the office. All work and no play is a recipe for stress. No matter how big a workload awaits you at the office, be sure to make time for enjoyable activities away from work. Spend time with friends and family, plan a weekend getaway or simply relax at home. Such time, even if it's not as often as you might like, makes dealing with stress at the office that much easier to handle. • Remain physically active. Exercise is a great remedy for stress. In fact, the American Psychological Association notes that studies have suggested physically active people have lower rates of anxiety and depression than sedentary people. While research is ongoing, some researchers feel exercise enhances the body's ability to respond to stress. In addition, exercise seems to give the body practice at dealing with stress. While exercising, the body's physiological systems are forced to communicate with one another. These same sys- tems must also communicate with one another when responding to stress. Regular exercise helps the body com- municate more efficiently, something that helps when the time comes to respond to stress. Stress at the office is likely always going to be a concern for working men and women. However, there are ways to effectively cope with stress no matter how daunting a work- load might be. (MNS) Tips to help you cope with stress at work k l d k ll h l h l h f lExtra work load takes its toll on the mental health of employees Heavier workloads have left many workers dealing with elevated Heavier workloads have left many workers dealing with elevated levels of stress. Whether you have an appointment or you're considering whether to make the call, follow these guidelines to ensure that you are prepared for your hearing appoint- ment. 1. Bring someone with you: It is a good idea to bring someone with you - a fam- ily member or close friend. For one, they can give you emotional and moral support. Secondly, the person will help you remem- ber information that the hearing care ex- pert will share. Finally, the person you bring can give you another perspective on your hearing loss as a one who interacts with it on a regular basis. 2. Know what to expect: First, you will take a hearing screening. This is a pure tone hearing test where you put head- phones on and listen to precise, clear sounds. You'll hear a series of tones at dif- ferent volumes. This determines how well you hear different frequencies of sounds. Next, you'll do a speech test where the hearing care expert will say several words and ask you to repeat them. This test de- termines how well you understand speech. 3. Prepare for success: Feeling prepared reduces anxiety and helps you get the most out of your hearing test. Try to an- swer these questions about your hearing: • What hearing loss symptoms do you have? How long have you been experienc- ing them? Is your hearing loss in one ear or both? You could also ask people if they've noticed any changes in your hearing • Have you had any chronic infections, injuries or surgeries related to your ears? • Have you ever had a job that exposed you to loud noise? Do you have any questions? Write them down so you are ready to ask your hearing care expert. And here's a top tip: arrive at the clinic 15 minutes before your appoint- ment. 4. Now is less stressful than later: Delay- ing your hearing test may increase the anxi- ety you feel about your need to take action. And if you do have a hearing loss, delaying treatment can actually make it harder to treat. This is because your ability to under- stand speech degenerates quicker if hear- ing loss is not treated. Article provided by campaignforbetterhearing.ca How to prepare for a hearing test Try theYMCAwith a free one week trial! 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