Burnout from workplace stress remains at an all-time hight as professionals continue to grapple with the notion of work-life balance. According to the latest Profmed Stress Index, an overwhelming 40% of respondents said work-life balance was the number one driver of stress in their lives followed by toxic environments and workload.
According to Profmed Clinical Executive Justine Lacy, “It’s hard for many working professionals to admit when they aren’t coping. We have developed a culture where it is acceptable to push through, irrespective of how you are feeling mentally and physically and hopefully come out the other side unscathed. This avoidance strategy doesn’t work anymore. Something’s got to give.”
The Stress Index is compiled annually from the responses of over 2000 of Profmed’s professional membership base. Covering a variety of sectors and industries, Lacy says this index provides an essential barometer for measuring stress levels annually in the country.
Lacy’s avoidance theory rings true as the 2023 Stress Index revealed that 72% of professionals have never sought help for stress. “We find the impact of daily stresses creeping into our lives. It is often all-encompassing and manifests in different ways for different people. It could ultimately lead down a dark road.”
According to the Stress Index, most respondents feel that stress affects them on an emotional, physical, and mental level. Fatigue is reported to be the most common symptom followed by lack of sleep and muscle tension. The Index revealed the three biggest side effects of stress as disconnecting from the world, being overly aggressive, and overeating.
“The relentless stresses of daily life manifest physically in tightened muscles and restless nights, while mentally, a ceaseless stream of thoughts takes its toll,” says Lacy. “Emotionally, our resilience erodes, and our nerves fray. So, in the throes of workplace pressure, our holistic wellbeing remains precariously balanced.”
Perhaps what Lacy found most surprising from this year’s Stress Index was the fact that almost half of respondents were reported to be either ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ with the way they currently manage their stress.
“Of course, stress is a very personal journey,” says Lacy. “But I find it hard to believe that so many people are satisfied with the way they are coping, especially considering that stress levels in general are on the rise and have been for years.” The Stress Index showed that 30% of respondents identified exercise as their go-to in dealing with stress. This was followed by finding a hobby to keep busy (14.13%) and speaking to family or friends (14%).
Lacy believes the Index is helpful but says there are too many professionals who are unaccounted for in the numbers in terms of those who haven’t realised how stress is completely controlling their lives. She provides a few helpful tips on how professionals could invite more serenity into their lives:
- Set achievable goals to maintain a manageable workload.
- Integrate breaks into your routine for mental refreshment.
- Establish clear boundaries between work and personal life.
- Prioritise self-care through activities that promote mental well-being.
- Practice mindfulness or meditation for stress relief.
- Seek support from friends, family, or colleagues when needed.
- Delegate tasks and avoid taking on excessive responsibility.
- Cultivate effective time management skills.
- Foster open communication about wellbeing with those around you.
- Explore resources like counselling or wellbeing programmes for additional support.
It could be a weekend outing with the family, a coffee date with a friend or a realistic reorganising of your workload, to reduce your stress. Whatever the therapy may be, we need to be cognisant of how stress can wear us down. It’s clear the work environment is a huge proponent of stress for employed South Africans. Equally, those who are not employed deal with a different type of stress. Whatever the cause of your stress might be it is time to recognise it and tackle it head on.”,” Lacy concludes.
