Family, friends and recreation, the way to less stress
By Rita A. Widiadana
JAKARTA (JP): Soon after receiving an MBA from a prestigious university in the United States, Randy Irawan joined a noted financial consulting firm in Jakarta.
Irawan (not his real name) was thrilled at the opportunity of doing such work. He started as a junior financial consultant at the company six years ago. He enthusiastically plunged into various projects. As a young and idealist worker, he used every opportunity to finish his work ahead of schedule. He began working harder and harder.
Now he works more than 15 hours a day, starting work an hour before anyone else arrives. He regularly stays in the office until 11 p.m., and often works weekends as well. He rarely takes his 12-day annual leave.
His working schedule is very heavy. Meetings with bosses, staff and clients; discussions, seminars and traveling are his day-to-day activities. Playing sport, going on vacation and relaxing hardly enter his mind. "Working hard is my ethos," said Irawan, 35, who seems to really enjoy his life.
When traveling, a cellular phone and laptop are his constant companions. Whenever and wherever possible, he takes these two things with him to maintain contact with his supervisor and to complete his reports before meeting his boss.
The result of all his hard work has been amazing. Now, he is the director of finance at the same company. He earns Rp 30 million (US$12,600) a month excluding bonuses. He owns two BMW sedans, an expensive jeep and a modern house in Bintaro Jaya housing complex in South Jakarta, home to many yuppies. He does not have to worry about money and can buy anything he wants.
The average person may envy his glamourous lifestyle. But is he really happy?
In a recent survey by Marketing Research Specialist published by SWA monthly magazine it is revealed that many executives lead luxurious lives. Basic needs such as housing and cars are within easy reach for them. Of the 308 managers (262 men and 46 women) questioned, 85.1 percent of them own houses and villas.
Modern equipment such as computerized notebooks, personal computers, credit cards, cellular phones, BMWs and Mercedes-Benz are symbols of their prosperity. Luxury cars are owned by 37.76 percent of the respondents, 18.8 percent have "gold" credit cards and 67.5 percent have "classic" credit cards.
Of the respondents, 81.5 percent to 79 percent spend much of their after-hours in restaurants, 77.6 percent spend time in book stores, 68.2 percent exercise, 68.9 percent window shop, 42 percent visit pub and cafes, 26.3 percent go to discos, and 4.5 percent surf the Internet.
"No, I am not happy at all. I feel terrible. Since I joined the company I've practically stopped seeing my friends, I started drinking alcohol and I am so depressed. I feel that I have run out of gas," said Irawan who looks older than his age. He suffers severe back pain, high blood pressure, migraines, insomnia and serious stomach ache.
Suma'moer from the Indonesian Doctors Association said in a recent seminar jointly held by the association and Bisnis Indonesia daily that many executives suffer from such stress- related conditions such as backache, headache, muscle pain and gastrointestinal disorders because of their lifestyles.
"Everywhere you look, it's laptops, cellular phones and faxes. No one takes a break anymore. With e-mail and overnight mail people have stopped building direct communications," the doctor said.
Such symptoms do not occur suddenly and do not disappear after a good night's sleep. Rather, they are chronic conditions, what one researcher has called a general erosion of the spirit that has several possible consequences: loss of enthusiasm for work or family, trouble concentrating, reduced creativity, depression, alienation and even paranoia.
Workplace ambience also plays an important part in creativity. "Whenever you find a situation that demands more energy than an individual can give, you have to be ready to enter a stressful environment," he said.
Smoking and drinking alcohol certainly worsens the problem, and an imbalanced diet contributes to other illnesses such as diabetes, heart attack and obesity.
In the United States, stress-related diseases cost American companies between US$75 billion and $160 billion annually. There is no record of the cost to Indonesian companies.
Dadang Hawari, chairman of the Indonesian Psychiatric Association, believes a combination of factors cause all the trouble. "Families, religious structures and communities are less stable now," he said.
"It is people who find meaning beyond work who are most resilient, the ones who have strong religious beliefs, a sense that there's something bigger that 'me', or a spiritual dimension that prevents stress.
"Employees who maintain a balance of family, friends, recreation and work are the least stressed at work," he said.