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We put fuel in our cars and this allows us to drive where we need to go. Similarly, practising self-care (think adequate sleep, good nutrition, exercise and supportive relationships) and developing skills such as resilience and self-compassion, provide the resources or the fuel for human bodies and brains and then we use this fuel to drive, to meet the demands of our lives.
But what if we put resources in our tanks only to discover that the demands of our day are just so high and relentless that we can’t get through it all? It might be that we have our foot to the floor all the time, working at full capacity, and the fuel levels drop quickly. Or it may be that we are trying to drive the car further than the capacity of the fuel tank allows – we are trying to get 1000km out of a 500km tank.
A recently released Australian study1 sheds some light on this question by investigating the relationship between working hours and our mental health. The study is derived from the HILDA or Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey which is a longitudinal study that has been collecting data from a nationally representative subset of people for some years.
The findings from the study are;
A related HILDA study2, found that people who become newly time-poor often reduce their exercise and eat a poorer quality diet. The link between high working hours and lower mental health may well be explained by having insufficient time to practice appropriate self-care.
The HILDA study adds further weight to veterinary studies which have been conducted in numerous countries and shows that long working hours adversely affect the mental health of the profession. Our award here in Australia, the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award, specifies a 38-hour average working week. But we all know that there are plenty of people working way in excess of that – especially newer graduates, those with managerial responsibilities and high on-call loads, etc.
Employers, we know we have a problem with psychological distress in the industry. Here is somewhere that you can make a difference. Maybe you could consider;
I know, I know. This is going to cost money and it sounds like it will take a lot of work. And running a practice is not easy. I have done it and I get it.
Price Waterhouse Cooper’s research shows that for each $1 invested in creating a mentally healthy workplace, the average return on investment is $2.30. Yes, it will take time and money – and you will reap the rewards of the investment.
Creating a mentally healthy workplace is not solely the responsibility of the owners and managers. But it is extremely hard for employees to change their work conditions without the support of their leaders.
Managing the fuel consumption, the working hours and demands on your employees helps create mentally healthy workplaces which are better for your people, your business, and your bottom line.
References
What’s really stopping you from taking a break? Tell us in the Comments section below.
Cathy is a coach and well-being consultant/educator with Make Headway. Prior to this, she worked as a veterinarian, trainer and manager in private, university and corporate practices for 25 years. Please visit her website to make an enquiry about coaching or to find out more.
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