January 2009  Issue

A new term has been coined. It is “technostress” (Michelle Weil and Larry Rosen, “TechnoStress: Coping with Technology”) and it basically deals with our reaction to stress and how we are changing due to its influence. While we think of technology in relation to the workplace, it also touches us at home and blurs the lines between work and our personal lives. We are invaded by technology on all fronts and many times find it difficult to let go. You may think otherwise, but have you ever fielded work phone calls or taken a work laptop on vacation? Do you have trouble sleeping at night because your mind is so overloaded?

No surprise, but technostress can cause or exacerbate illness. So what can you do to help reduce stressors?

Pay Attention to Your Body

• Inadequate lighting, no rest breaks, and awkward sitting positions can affect your body. Take breaks, rest your eyes, stretch, and...relax!
• Even though you're busy, eat a good lunch.
• At home, get enough rest, eat healthy meals, and make sure you exercise each day.

Manage Your Work

   E-mail

• If you are overloaded with e-mail each day, choose to go through the list at specific times during the day rather than opening each e-mail as it comes in.
• Organize Microsoft® Office Outlook®, or whatever message software you use so you can easily file, delete, schedule, and respond to each e-mail.
• Keep e-mails you send as short as possible.

   Backups and Files

• Make sure (don’t assume) that all computer-related work you do is backed up each day, and that some or all backups are kept off-site.
• Save your work often, and when naming files, make sure the name makes sense to you. In six months, will you know what is in the document by reading the file name?

   Software

• Invest time in learning applications you use daily. This is a difficult thing to do, but it will pay big dividends in the long run.
• Know where to get help with the software applications you use. For example, did you know that most software applications contain online help? To view it, on your computer keyboard, press the F1 key. Additionally, many software companies publish knowledge base articles, white papers, and other guides on their Web site. They may also host blogs, user groups, or Wikis that can provide assistance.
• Learn who deals with patches, updates, and virus protection software in your organization and make sure that individual keeps your computer up-to-date.
• Be careful what you download from the Internet!

   Your Workspace

• Organize your work area, then make sure you put items where they belong rather than letting them pile up.
• Give yourself 15 minutes each week to clean up your work area.

   Managing Your Workload

• If you are overloaded in spite of the organizational tools you’ve put into place, talk to your supervisor about how work can be reduced or redistributed.
• Be specific in what needs to change, but do so in a constructive manner.