We have grown up listening since Childhood, “All work and no Play makes Jack a Dull boy”…….the same if it were to be restated in todays context, would read somewhat like, “All work and no play makes Jack a Stressed Guy”. Stressed because Jack in this circumstance is not a dull guy, he is smart, ambitious, comes with a good pedigree, with lots of energy, dreams and wants to achieve success in life.

Such Jacks are found in each and every organization and has  now synonym for many working executives  irrespective of whether it is a MNC or local. Ask any executive in any Organization to name the single issue facing him and his colleagues, and pat comes the reply without even thinking  and waiting for you to complete your sentence…..increased STRESS levels. Whether there has been a corresponding increase in the Sales and Profit levels because of this stress or not , but one thing which is true, without doubt is level to which the Stress levels have  increased has become not only alarming but also disturbing.

Beating the street, or dancing to the tunes of stock market and financial analysts or just to keep up with the Jones, whatever factor you may attribute it to Jack is finding no respite. Month after Month, Quarter after Quarter Jack is expected to outshine, he is expected to swim against the tides of Economy or Industrial growth.

This is not only affecting the executive, but also costing his family and organization too. Confronting the organization are issues like increased medical cost, productivity and high levels of attrition of key executives. Family is forced to come to terms with irritable behavior towards family members, addiction to alcohol, increased smoking, and in extreme cases shortened life of an otherwise healthy executive.

But, the moot question still remains, “Is there a way out” Work life Balance is an age old prescription which psychologist have been talking about. Managing stress levels rather than getting sucked into it is another way. At the end of the day one must realize, there will be organizational constraints, economic constraints, and various other limitations over which the individual or the organization has no say..…..hence to come out of this rather than stay there, we must find out our own ways and means to handle and keep the stress levels at bay rather than become a victim of it.  To some it may be perusing a hobby, may be joining a peer group outside company, taking a break, listening to music etc etc.