For the third time this week, Sharla rummages through the over-the-counter medications in the break room. Jesse, the nursing supervisor, decides to investigate . "You seem to be taking a lot of acetaminophen and ibuprofen lately. Is everything okay with you?" Sharla sighs , "Life is fine. I am getting frequent mild headaches, and I think it's because I have too much to do every day with no breaks. There's work, kids, husband, school activities, dance lessons, soccer, recitals, chores, errands..." Sharla's voice trails off. Jesse has heard these comments often from full-time nursing staff with children at home. While overall life satisfaction may be fine, role overload can cause stress for many.
Employment, household upkeep, child rearing, errands, caring for aging parents, civic responsibilities, and other activities place working adults in multiple, and often time-consuming roles. This can leave little or no time for adequate rest of mind, body, and spirit, and it can lead to physical ailments such as chronic headaches, fatigue, malaise, depression, and poor productivity (Murray, 2001).
Working adults with children at home express high levels of emotional well-being; however, these individuals also report a particularly time pressured existence (Zuzanek, 1998). Multiple roles are a lifestyle staple for most home care clinical staff.
Although limiting the number of roles performed may ease overload, many find it difficult to choose where to cut back. To begin the process of reviewing where a reduction could be accomplished, Murray (2001) suggests addressing certain issues (see sidebar).
A structured approach to role reduction is one of transforming a harried lifestyle into a comfortable rhythm of existence. It is often initially difficult to entertain the idea of streamlining or omitting life roles. However, the benefits of doing so might include less fatigue and improved performance in valued areas both at home and at work.
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