SOS To Stress Day Press Release
Little Britain, ON – June 26, 2019
Socially Isolated and Lonely Leads To Increased Stress
Issue: We are forming fewer social connections than in the past and that could be impacting our ability to cope.
Many of us are stressed out with too much to do and not enough time to do it in. As life gets busier, our social network often gets smaller and smaller. We barely have enough time for ourselves or our families, let alone staying connected with our true friends. In previous decades, work was a major source of friendships. There were company sponsored picnics, sports teams and holiday dances. Now, we head to the office to be efficient and productive, but not necessarily to be social. We talk and we problem solve, but fewer meaningful relationships are being built.
The number of workers who felt they had someone with whom they could discuss important matters with has dropped significantly. 6% of Canadians reported that they had no close friends and 35% said that they were lonely.
Why Are Friends Good For Us?:
According to an Australian study by the Centre for Aging Studies at Flinders University, those who had a large network of friends outlived those with the fewest friends by 22%. This occurs because the companionship provided by friends may ward off depression, boost self-esteem, and provide support. People with social support from friends have fewer cardiovascular and immune problems, and lower levels of cortisol.
Why Are Social Connections Important In The Workplace?
In a quest for an engaged workforce, we often look at meaningful work, leisure activities and salary, however, friendships at work may be one of the most important elements to employee engagement and retention.
One of the 10 Important Elements Of Organizational Culture is social support, however it is often one of the most neglected areas of workplace culture
Being socially connected at work helps in buffering against the stress of deadlines, customer service issues and setbacks. Work becomes a more enjoyable place to go because you feel appreciated and cared about. Even if you are working at a less than ideal job, having friends at work can make the days go faster and encourage creativity and problem-solving. With an outlet to release your anger, you will rebound quicker when setbacks at work occur.
A Gallup survey found that close work friendships boosted employee satisfaction by 50% and people with a best friend at work were seven times more likely to be fully engaged in their work.
Another survey by the Gallup organization looking at The Twelve Key Dimensions That Describe Great Work Groups said that of employees who not only had friends at work, but who had a best friend there were:
- 43% more likely to report having received praise or recognition for their work in the last seven days
- 37% more likely to report that someone at work encourages their development
- 27% more likely to report that the mission of their company makes them feel their job is important
- 27% more likely to report that their opinions seem to count at work
- 21% more likely to report that at work, they have the opportunity to do what they do best every day
What Can Organizations Do To Promote Social Connection?
Have you ever watched how your kids connect at the playground or on the soccer field. They say ‘hi’ and off they go. They ask questions. They share ideas. They are fascinated and engaged in the conversation and interaction.It is more challenging for adults, especially in the workplace. Our guard is up. We don’t reveal too much because it may be used against us or reflect badly on us in some way.
Start With Building A Positive Culture.
Some companies — among them Zappos, Google, DaVita, Dropbox, and Southwest — have built reputations for fostering comradeship at work. Camaraderie at work includes mutual respect, sense of identity, and admiration to push for hard work and outcomes. Creating comradeship at work hinges on the leaders of organizations understanding that workplace relationship enhance their competitive advantage for recruiting top employees, retaining employees, and improving engagement, creativity, and productivity. Many companies are engaging in corporate challenges, wellness competitions, community service events, and other activities to help build a sense of teamwork and togetherness.
Sometimes employees hold themselves back for fear of being thought of as unprofessional or not as productive. A progressive leader can encourage employees to be friends by discussing it openly and modeling positive relationships.
An example:
A leader can dedicate a set amount of time for employees to regularly interact through fun activities that everyone can participate in. Typical birthday recognition is handled through a signed card from teammates or having a luncheon. However, one company has the birthday person do something extra like talking about their favorite birthday memory, sharing their plans or goals for the upcoming year or having one person say something nice about that particular person. The objective of the celebration is to give the employee some positive attention while also helping the group get to know them better.
Are There Downsides To Friendships At Work?
Absolutely. There can be professional jealousy, negative cliques, split loyalties, loss of work time due to excessive socializing and consequences from broken friendships. However, these are all manageable by a proactive leader.
Workplace Friendships Matter.
They produce more cooperative teams, increase motivation and productivity, and ensure happier, more engaged employees. With 70% of employees reporting that it is the most crucial element to a happy work life, it is worth the time and effort to build and nurture within your team.
Celebrating Resiliency June 30, 2019
SOS To STRESS Day is not just about promoting awareness around the negative impact of stress. SOS To STRESS Day encourages everyone to evaluate their priorities and coping tools and ensure that they have the ‘right’ strategies, to handle whatever life has to offer.
“Coping with stress is simple…though not always easy. It’s about having enough tools, and the right tools, in your coping tool belt to build your resiilency,” continues Beuermann-King.
As part of her presentations to help corporations, organizations and employees, Beuermann-King developed the S-O-S Principle. “The goal of the S-O-S Principle is to have a variety of strategies that help you to deal with what is happening in your life, take care of yourself through those situations and feel supported by those around you.”
How Can You Help?
Beverly Beuermann-King is inviting media, employers, health care organizations and associations across the country to bring awareness to the issue of social connection, coping with stress and creating balance and life satisfaction.
Spread the word! To book an interview with stress and wellness specialist, Beverly Beuermann-King, please contact Beverly at info@worksmartlivesmart.com.
Since SOS To Stress Day falls on a Sunday this year, organizations and employers can post links to on-line articles and tools, develop and disseminate educational materials and/or start a social media discussion in the week prior to SOS To Stress Day. It may be as simple as sending out a reminder that SOS To Stress Day is just before Canada Day, and encourage their employees to consciously plan to do some activities that will relax, re-energize and reconnect them to friends and family.
Beverly’s Hot Tips For Increasing Social Connection:
- Evaluate your friendships.
Do your friends give off a positive energy that make you feel good and doesn’t drain you? Do you feel better or
worse about yourself when you are with them? - Listen with your heart
When dealing with friends, it’s important to give as well as to receive. Listen to the emotion in what is being said - Make the time
Though life can get away from us we should never let our friendships get away from us. Friendships take energy and time to nurture
and to keep fresh
Additional Resources
Social Connection Infographic: https://worksmartlivesmart.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Social-Connectedness.pdf
Other mental health and resiliency infographics: https://worksmartlivesmart.com/mental-health-infographics/
More Facts about sources, symptoms and coping strategies can be found at https://worksmartlivesmart.com/sos-to-stress-day
To receive the latest stats and info on stress follow Beverly on Twitter at @sostostress or https://twitter.com/sostostress
Stress and Wellness Blog – https://worksmartlivesmart.com/blog/
- Life In Balance – https://worksmartlivesmart.com/life-in-balance-july/
- Work-Life Balance Is A Choice – https://worksmartlivesmart.com/work-life-balance-choice/
- Coping With Life – https://worksmartlivesmart.com/coping-with-life/
- Evaluate Your Life – https://worksmartlivesmart.com/evaluate-your-life-day-october/
For More Information
Beverly Beuermann-King, CSP
As one of the leading Stress Management Speakers in the country, and a Certified Speaking Professional, Beverly has spent the last 20 years training and educating more than 50,000 leaders, teams, front-line workers and volunteers using her S-O-S Principle™. Beverly’s passion is to help individuals and teams find the right strategies to effectively deal with today’s stressful challenges.
As a sought after expert, Beverly has made many television and radio media appearances and is often used as a resource on health and wellness issues. Beverly is the author of Stress Out: 52 Weeks To Letting More Life In.
To book an interview with stress and wellness specialist, Beverly Beuermann-King, please contact Beverly at info@worksmartlivesmart.com
To Find Out More About Beverly visit https://worksmartlivesmart.com/about-beverly/
Stress Out: 52 Weeks To Letting More Life In: https://worksmartlivesmart.com/stress-wellness-resources/stress-out-52-weeks-to-letting-more-life-in/
See Previous Presses Releases:
- 1st Annual SOS To Stress Day 2011 What Do Sleep, Sex and Sweaty Palms Have In Common?
- 2nd Annual SOS To Stress Day 2012 Is It Time To Give A Hug, Kiss Or Call Your Mom?
- 3rd Annual SOS To Stress Day 2013 It’s Time For Baby Boomers To Step Up!
- 4th Annual SOS TO Stress Day 2014 Stop Letting Guilt Stress You Out
- 5th Annual SOS To Stress Day 2015 Don’t Let Stress Change You
- 6th Annual SOS TO Stress Day 2016 Summer Stress Syndrome
- 7th Annual SOS To Stress Day 2017 Productivity Deficit Leads To More Stress
- 8th Annual SOS To Stress Day 2018 Hope Leads To Less Stress
If you have some strategies to share – comment on this posting!
