Dude Feels like a Lady

I feel like Lady Gaga today. This statement quite obviously deserves further explanation. No, I did not wear an outfit like this to work today (you are quite welcome, co-workers). What I mean to say is that I can relate to her new single, Telephone, where she sings: “Stop callin’, Stop callin’, I don’t wanna think anymore!” It’s been a long week Faithful Readers and I for one am more than ready for the weekend. It occurs to me that some of you may be having one of those so-called weeks as well (I know for a fact some of you in my office are).

Did you know that forty percent of workers nationally report their job is very or extremely stressful? Twenty-six percent report that they often or very often feel burned out or stressed out by their work. There are many, many different causes of job stress and it not only has a physical toll on our health, it also has a toll on our national economic health. Stress in the workplace can lead to headaches, appetite disturbance, sleep disturbance, low productivity, low morale, job dissatisfaction, an upset stomach, a short temper, and many other issues. We lawyers seem to be particularly stressed out, and studies show that we have a higher rate of suicide and substance abuse because of it. The State Bar actually requires us to take continuing legal education classes in substance abuse and mental health issues because of these statistics.

Depressed yet? Well, I’m sure there’s some very expensive pill your health insurance (if you’re even lucky enough to have it) won’t pay for to help you with that. The point of this post, however, is not to moan or boohoo about my life, your life, your neighbor’s life or your coworker’s life. It’s intended to do for you what the painting of Homer Simpson in my office does for me each day: to serve as a reminder not to take life too seriously (a chronic problem for us lawyers).

Unless you want to become a statistic, you need to find ways of coping with that stress. At work, maybe you take a few more breaks and get a collection of nifty stress balls. Update your Facebook status and surf the web for a few (short) minutes. Maybe you go into your file room and sob quietly to yourself. Whatever works for you. Outside of your work find physical and mental activities that give you a release. I mountain bike and write. I’ve also recently started taking karate classes and highly recommend that as a great workout and great stress reliever. One caveat, however: if you should start taking karate, please restrain yourself from using your new Chuck Norris skills on your bosses and co-workers (this means you, mother).

The weather is finally warmer Readers. Daylight savings time starts Sunday and the first day of Spring is March 20. Get out of your offices and homes this weekend and enjoy it. Bad weather on the horizon? Who cares…when’s the last time you pulled a Gene Kelly? Have fun. See a movie (not Avatar). Go shopping, or do whatever else makes you feel good and take some of that stress off of yourself. It’s Friday, after all.