Stress

“Almost one half of Canadians complain they are experiencing moderate to high levels of stress trying to balance their jobs and their home life,” reports the Vancouver Sun newspaper. “That’s twice as many as a decade ago.” Why the increase? A survey released by the Conference Board of Canada revealed a rise in the percentage of Canadian workers who are caregivers for family members. More are having children later in life, and these are often faced with the challenge “of caring for both children and parents at the same time.” Although 84 percent of survey respondents still felt satisfied with their jobs, the report notes that when balancing the demands of home and work becomes a problem, “most cut back first on their own time, including sleep time.” The Conference Board notes: “Stress results, and health suffers.”