When You Punch The Clock, Does It Punch Back?
If Work Is Taking Up More Of Your Time, You're Not Alone -- Or Hopeless
Jacqueline Tresl, R.N., gives tips on coping with stress
March 9, 2000, 10:57 a.m. EST
Remember Henry Winkler? The Fonz from "Happy Days"? I saw him on a talk show recently, and I was struck by some words of wisdom he uttered: "If you want to get something done, give the job to a busy man."  The Fonz didn't coin that truism, but somehow, from the lips of a guy we previously knew best as an icon of retro-50's mellow cool in a leather jacket, that mantra of ambition seemed to speak volumes about our work-obsessed culture. Overworked men and women, racing through life instead of living it -- if you want something done and done right, hand it over to them. Caffeine-swilling, foot-jiggling, horn-honking, channel-surfing, digital-image-uploading-over lightning-high-speed-DSL -- they never stop.  Copiers, computers, voice mail, Palm Pilots and cell phones give them every bit of information they'll ever need or want available in a nanosecond. Instead of working less, they slog longer and more intensely, everyday raising the bar on their daily capacities, trying to become ever more efficient and productive. We keep upping the ante of what we can and should be able to get done in a single day. Weren't We Supposed To 'Take It Easy'? In the early 1970s, Americans were working their shortest work schedules ever -- an average 39 hours a week. Sociologists heralded the 70's as beginning of this country's Age of Leisure. So much for that theory. In the 1990s, the average worker put in 164 extra hours annually. That adds up to one entire additional month each year. Stop any 10 people on the street and ask them how they are, and nine out of ten will answer "busy." Speed-sickness has become a North American epidemic. We are entrapped by time. It's wearing us out, emotionally, physically and societally. Busy Without Being Stressed You may say, "Yes, that's true, but if I don't come in early and stay late, if I'm not electronically connected everywhere I go, if I don't do my office work on my laptop in the evenings at home, I won't be promoted, won't be well-paid and won't garner collegial respect." First of all, that's a run-on sentence. More importantly, if you really believe that external forces are obligating you to live the lifestyle you're living, it's time for a bit of self-examination. Look around you. Are the most productive and successful people prisoners of time?  Does Bill Gates seem like he's in a hurry? Does he appear stressed?
How about Rosie O'Donnell? Al Gore? Pope John Paul II? Tom Brokaw? The really cool people aren't speed-sick; in fact, the opposite is true. They have passion and zest, march at their own pace and follow their own dreams. They don't care what they look like to the rest of us; they're too busy doing their thing. It is possible to step out of your fast-paced maze, without sacrificing productivity. You can choose to master time, instead of simply managing it. Living Your Own Time Zone Your time belongs to you: It's your decision how you want to fill it. Your daily schedule should serve as a planner, not as a shackle. Pushy people can and should be disregarded. Nobody has the right to steal your time away from you. Computers, television, telephones can be turned off and ignored for an afternoon, or even an entire weekend. You'd be amazed how much extra time you can free up for yourself by temporarily eschewing electronics.  Once in a while, put it off. Not the really important stuff like annual pap smears or paying property taxes. But sometimes, ask yourself, "Do I really need to return that phone call right now, when instead I could go toss a softball to my son?" Cut yourself some slack. Most of us don't treat ourselves even as good as we treat our dogs. Rushing here, gobbling there, half a burger and soggy fries, as we dash across the street. We don't get enough sleep or exercise. Heck, we don't even take time to enjoy our own personal grooming. Don't be afraid to sprawl out and do nothing. And above all -- remember The Fonz. Stay cool. Related Stress Busters: Further Reading:--Jacqueline Tresl, R.N., a coronary intensive care nurse and nursing supervisor for over 20 years, writes about health and happiness for newspapers and magazines. Her first book, "Whoever Heard of a Horse In The House?" is scheduled for release in March. First published March 8, 2000
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