You may be familiar with the story of John Henry - a real life-based African-American folk hero who died from exhaustion after "successfully" outdigging a steam-powered drill.
As a young boy, I was never quite sure what the takeaway lesson of this legend was supposed to be. Was it making the point that it's senseless to work hard, especially in a physical context -- when technology can you spare you ample blood, sweat and tears (and that said technology can put you out of a job, if you don't happen to own it)? Or was the tale glorifying workplace martyrdom while spawning what would become a staple fiction archetype, that of the often-tragic, "Magic Negro?"
Turns out, the legend of railroad worker John Henry has special relevance in modern times, no matter what your ethnicity. Workplace stress can lead to hypertension, depression, weight gain, ulcers and a boxcar full of other unpleasantness. Psychologists have even coined a colorful diagnosis for people who cope with stress by working harder, even as they lose more and more control - the shrinks call it "John Henryism."
Metaphorically speaking - and I'm as guilty of this as anybody - John Henryism is a workplan for digging yourself into an early grave. (Check out workplace consultant Dan Bobinski's excellent piece on how even a "non-hazardous" office job can kill you, here.)
I sank lower and lower into my seat as I read this quote about John Henryism, or "JH" as researchers call it, from Duke University psychiatrist Christopher L. Edwards, Ph.D.:
"People who are so intensely success-oriented and goal-directed, even beyond their resources such as income, education or family support, might seem to succeed at first," said Edwards. "But, long term they are likely to fail because their lack of resources will catch up to them. Add to that the African American situation, which, for many, includes an expectation that failure is inevitable, you find yourself in a most destructive situation.
"They end up compromising their health, with higher rates of cardiovascular disease and death as compared to any other population in the world."
Whew. Again, while this could describe any overworked American, the consequences for black people are particularly morbid.
As I pointed out in a previous article, from a physical fitness standpoint, this kind of stress jacks up your production of the hormone cortisol, making it impossible to build muscle. Concurrently, your body follows its evolutionary programming to pack on fat.
Since I'm in the United States and it's fair to say we North Americans spend most of our waking hours on the job, let's assume that most of your stress is work-related. With that in mind, check out this definition of workplace stress from the Canadian Mental Health Association and see if it doesn't sound like some place you know:
Fear of job redundancy, layoffs due to an uncertain economy, increased demands for overtime due to staff cutbacks act as negative stressors. Employees who start to feel the "pressure to perform" can get caught in a downward spiral of increasing effort to meet rising expectations with no increase in job satisfaction. The relentless requirement to work at optimum performance takes its toll in job dissatisfaction, employee turnover, reduced efficiency, illness and even death. Absenteeism, illness, alcoholism, "petty internal politics", bad or snap decisions, indifference and apathy, lack of motivation or creativity are all by-products of an over stressed workplace.
So how is it, exactly, that you stop digging? How do you put down that hammer - these days it's more likely a keyboard - when the Powers That Be in your life want more output, less expense, and more blood from your turnip? How do you balance that with the demands of family, financial obligations and dare I suggest, a social life?
A few firsthand observations:
1. It's hard. Accept that. By its very definition, "Balance" implies cutting back on areas where you're overly invested. For many people, it may mean they are overly invested in a job, and need to either scale back their hours or seek another way of providing for themselves.
2. Make time for exercise and physical ways to release stress. The American Psychological Association posits that "Exercise fuels the brain's stress buffers." …I'll go a bit farther than that and say that it deletes stress outright, at least temporarily.
3. Absolve yourself of guilt from Looking Out for No. 1 -- You. One of the key traits of John Henryism is putting your own welfare on the backburner in order to put work first. Do you avoid going to the doctor because scheduling the appointment interferes with your job? Do you put off making a workout plan because you're making money for too many hours? (See above)
4. Enjoy and appreciate your children, if you have them - and if not, get a pet and appreciate him or her.
5. Be an optimist. I'm not suggesting you be unrealistic, or that you live in your own little fantasy world - I'm merely suggesting that you aggressively seek the opportunity that lies in whatever situation you find yourself. No. 1 on Investor's Business Daily's List of Success Traits: "Always be positive. Think success, not failure. Beware of a negative environment."
6. Ask for and get help. You don't have to know or do it all, and it's absurd to think that you should. And yet many of us think that looking outside of ourselves for solutions is an admission of weakness. In fact it's quite the opposite. (Personal confession: If I had it all to do over again, I would ask for help more. Trying to be a One-Man Army has unequivocally held me back in life.) You may get a few No's, but generally people who are qualified to help are truly delighted to share and show off their expertise
7. Call on a Higher Power. Whatever this means to you, understand that you're not in this thing alone.
And one final observation - do look for ways to make your life easier, at least mentally and emotionally easier. Yes do take the stairs, walk, do your own moving and lifting, seek out physical work to the degree that it gets you moving -- and to the degree that it's practical of course. But when it comes to time-saving processes and technology, for instance leveraging the Web for your shopping, communications, dealing with pain-in-the-a** people, marketing yourself and your business - use them, instead of running yourself ragged!
As Zig Ziglar put it, "Do not confuse activity with accomplishment."
You can bet your bottom steam-drillbit that if Ol' John Henry were alive today, he'd agree. Be strong, live well.
Akweli Parker is an ISSA-certified fitness trainer and the founder of www.musclefoundry.com. He can be reached at akweli@musclefoundry.com
