Overloading at work, home violates tolerable stress level

Think of your life as a rubber band stretched to its limit. If you add one more activity to your  schedule, you are likely to pop.

“The overload syndrome is the idea that we’re stretched, and if we add one more thing, we step over the line until we finally break,” explained Tommy Yessick,  who formerly served as a wellness specialist for LifeWay  Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention and is now with Upward Basketball.

“We in America tend to not realize that we can be stretched until we can’t go anymore, so we add one more thing. And that’s what leads to our mounting stress,” Yessick said.

Yessick suggests first considering your activities.

“Think of all the things you do at church, for your kids, for your family, for the community. Now think of all the things you think you should be doing.”

Next, consider your attitudes toward your daily  activities.

“What type of attitude do you have as you approach all of your tasks? If you dread many of them, that can add stress to your life too.”

Yessick suggested people should establish a margin between their load and their limit.

“A margin is the space between what you are currently involved in and the limit you can take. The limit is absolutely as far as you can go.”

He said when there is no buffer between load and limit, “exhaustion is the result.”

“The margin or buffer is the space between vitality and exhaustion.”

Overloading on activities not only impacts the individual, it affects his or her families and friends, Yessick said.

“Your joy dries up when you step over the line and stay over the line, and that affects the joy of those around you. You can step over for a little bit, but you can’t stay there,” he said.

Americans spend 10 percent more than they have in time, energy and money, he said.

“We work hard, play hard and crash hard. You  will have to repay the money or somebody will come and get you. But who holds the mortgage on you?” he asked. “Who is the monitor of your time and energy?”                               

“Learn to take time to be still. Christians must regulate the activities in their own lives or they won’t be of any use to God. To do that takes spiritual discipline.” (BP)