Issue 154
You can encounter a syndrome when you read interviews with senior business figures, when the article outlines their daily schedule. Invariably, they get up very early, move quickly into high gear, travel all over the place, spend time in top-class hotels and consume large numbers of working lunches or dinners.
Again, you will find it when health professionals open up about their hours and commitments, and ironically you will hear this sentiment expressed when these people refer to others who do not seem to have the syndrome.
For different reasons, hard-working people are admired. Those who have achieved success through commitment, single-mindedness and sacrifice are considered models of human endeavour. When speaking of their efforts they will often say “hard work never hurt anyone”. The same phrase is used when commenting on those who are thought to be lazy, less committed or motivated. There is almost a credal assumption that this sentiment is correct. But the truth is that hard work can hurt. Firstly, the person who punishes their body with long hours and high intensity activity can put their health at risk. There is a real possibility of exhaustion, burn-out or increased dangers of major illness. Physical strains accompanied by emotional and psychological stresses can combine to create long-term poor health or even short-term crises.
Secondly, the individual who pursues success via long hours and absenteeism from family and friends can cause hurt amongst the very people that they love and whom, they sometimes proclaim, are the reason for the work in the first place. Missed anniversaries, birthdays, school events and rites of passage, along with a million lost moments are the hurtful price that others pay in this deal.
The alternative will not be in laziness or under-achievement but in introducing rest and relaxation to the pressurised week. The Sabbath commandment is not just about going to church instead of the supermarket, it is also designed to create health. David the psalmist, who was an extremely hard worker, valued the still waters and the green pastures that the Lord provided. We may need to change our views of success but we will certainly need to recognise that sometimes hard work does hurt someone.
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Work well
Geoff Shattock
© Copyright 2024 Geoff Shattock
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