Work Stress – Corporate Life

The One Thing We’re All Crushing at... And It’s Crushing Us Back

Let's face it: work stress has been bulking up like it’s training for the Olympics. Over the last 30 years, it’s been pumping iron, getting swole, and now it's out here body-slamming our emotional health. A recent global survey confirms just how brutal the smackdown has become:

• 71% of employees say work is basically body-checking their home life.
• 64% say it’s messing with their well-being—because who needs sleep or joy, right?
• 62% feel like work is wrecking their relationships. (Sorry, friends and family. It’s not you, it’s the job.)

Yep, it turns out that earning a paycheck in the modern-day workplace means trading in your sanity for that sweet direct deposit. We’re coming home with our patience running on fumes, our energy drained, and our happiness MIA. The result? We’re irritable, lethargic, and less likely to text back. (No, seriously, sorry about that.)

And the wild part? We know it. Like, REALLY know it. It’s not a secret, we’re all pretty much onboard with the fact that our jobs are emotional wrecking balls. So much so that most employees would gladly trade a bit of income for a big helping of inner peace. Here's the proof:

• 81% of employees would choose mental health over a high-paying job. Turns out, inner peace > fancy title.
• 64% would even take a pay cut for a job that doesn’t feel like emotional Jenga.

But there's a twist: employees also think their managers are making things worse. Yeah, that’s right—the boss might be the stress DJ in this emotional rave. A cool 35% of employees say their manager is oblivious to the emotional trainwreck they’re conducting. And 68% wish their managers would just step in and do something—anything!—to help out with this workplace soap opera.

Which raises a burning question: "Does my manager have it easier than me? Is climbing the ladder to success the golden ticket to work nirvana?"

Spoiler alert: Nope. It’s more like climbing a ladder straight into a stress cloud.

Here’s why:

• 57% of managers are basically saying, "I wish someone had told me this job was a trap."
• 46% are thinking, “I’m outta here” and are ready to ghost their job within the next year due to—you guessed it—stress.
• And if you’re thinking their fatter paycheck helps them cope better, surprise! 70% of managers would ditch that extra cash for a job that doesn’t turn them into emotional zombies.

But what if you make it all the way to the top? You know, CEO, C-level, captain of the corporate ship—surely it’s all smooth sailing there, right? WRONG.

• 35% of top execs are “often” or “always” stressed. That's like being a VIP member of the Stress Club.
• 40% of C-level folks are ready to bail in the next 12 months. Despite their big paychecks and corner offices, they’re still like, “Nope, I’m done. Take this job and...you know the rest.”

So, there you have it: from the office newbie to the head honcho, the stress epidemic is real. And while we’re all paying a heavy emotional toll, businesses are forking out cash too—in the form of low productivity, high absenteeism, and employees noping out at alarming rates.

In short, it’s time for us to stop climbing the ladder to stress-town and maybe find a different ladder...or a hammock. Preferably a hammock.

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On Another Note

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Owning a Business: Because Who Needs Free Time Anyway?

Okay, okay. So we’ve covered the slightly stressful reality of owning a business, but don’t start packing up your dreams of entrepreneurship just yet. Believe it or not, there are some solid advantages to being your own boss. Sure, it’s like riding a rollercoaster designed by an evil genius with a grudge, but hey, at least you’re the one in the front seat!

Here are some of the undeniable perks of business ownership—because, despite the chaos, it’s not all stress sweats and tax forms:

You Get to Be the Boss (of Yourself and Maybe Your Dog)

Finally, no more answering to the corporate overlords! You’re the head honcho now, which means you can make decisions like, “Should we take this meeting at Starbucks or at home in pajama pants?” Spoiler: Pajamas will always win.

Not only that, but your boss can’t be a jerk if it’s YOU. Unless, of course, you’re one of those people who is really hard on yourself, in which case, might we suggest a heart-to-heart with the mirror?

But seriously, it’s a nice feeling to know that if someone tells you what to do, you can respond with a polite, “I don’t think so, Kevin,” and go back to doing whatever you want. Even if “what you want” is debating which shade of beige to paint the office walls for the third time this week.

You Set Your Own Hours… Which Means You Can Work at 2 a.m.!

Who doesn’t love the idea of setting their own hours? Want to start work at noon? Go ahead! Want to wrap up early for a Friday off? Sure! But remember, you also might find yourself “choosing” to work those fun 2 a.m. shifts when your brain just won’t let you rest because, well, that invoice still hasn’t been paid.

But hey, there’s something magical about working late into the night, sipping cold coffee from your third mug of the day, and pretending you’re living the #grindlife while the world sleeps. It’s like starring in your own personal reality show: “The Business Owner Who Never Sleeps”. You’ll love it… we promise. (Or, you’ll love naps. Lots of naps.)

You Don’t Have to Ask for Permission

Remember the days of having to fill out a form in triplicate just to take a Friday afternoon off? Or asking for vacation like you’re a kid asking for an extra cookie? Yeah, those days are over! Now, you can just take that vacation whenever you want! Of course, you won’t, because, as we’ve already discussed, “vacation” is code for “constantly checking emails from a sandy beach.” But still, technically, you could.

No more approval chains, no more waiting for someone to sign off on your ideas—you are the decision maker. Want to invest in a state-of-the-art coffee machine for the office? Go for it! You don’t even need to run it by HR (which, let’s face it, is also you). Need a mid-afternoon nap because you’ve been running on adrenaline and caffeine since 2019? No one’s stopping you.

All the Glory (and None of the Blame)

When things go right in your business, you get all the credit. That’s right—there’s no sharing the glory here. If you land a big client or hit a major milestone, you can pat yourself on the back and give yourself a gold star. You’re the hero of your own success story!

Of course, when things go wrong… well, let’s not focus on that. Sure, there might be a little tiny bit of blame to shoulder, but that’s a problem for Future You to deal with, right? (Sorry, Future You. You’ll be fine. Probably.)

No More Awkward Office Parties

Remember the horror of mandatory office parties? You know, the ones where you had to make small talk with people you’ve only ever communicated with through passive-aggressive emails? Guess what? As a business owner, those awkward moments are officially a thing of the past!

Now, you can throw an office party with all the people you really want to hang out with. Which is mostly… you. And maybe your dog. But hey, your dog thinks you’re awesome, so at least someone’s hyped for that tiny cake in the break room!

And let’s be real—being able to choose your coworkers (if you even have any) means you get to hand-pick people who are fun. And if you’re the only employee? Even better! The karaoke machine is all yours, baby.

Your Income Ceiling is Like… the Sky

Okay, sure, there’s a little more financial uncertainty when you’re running your own business, but let’s focus on the positives. There’s no boss capping your salary! You can make as much money as you want—or at least as much as your clients are willing to pay you. Who knows? Maybe you’ll invent the next big thing and become a billionaire! At the very least, you’ll be able to justify all those fancy lattes as “business expenses.”

But seriously, there’s a certain thrill in knowing that your potential is limitless. Want to double your revenue this year? You can do it! Triple? Why not! Just throw a few more hours at it and hope your calendar doesn’t catch fire.

You Get to Chase Your Dreams (With a Net)

At the end of the day, owning a business lets you take control of your own destiny. You get to chase your dreams with gusto—assuming you’ve had enough coffee to stay awake long enough to catch them. There’s something truly satisfying about building something from the ground up, knowing that every ounce of success is a direct result of your hard work, creativity, and maybe a few spontaneous “panic dances” in the middle of the night.

And while it might feel like you're juggling flaming swords at times, it's your circus, and those are your monkeys. Even if those monkeys are sometimes stress, uncertainty, and the IRS.

So, yes, owning a business has its perks. It's not stress-free (not even close), but it’s an adventure with a capital A. Just remember: if the going gets tough, you’re allowed to reward yourself with a fancy office chair, a long nap, and, of course, the best boss-approved decision of all—taking an extra-long coffee break... which, let’s face it, is probably the main reason you wanted to work for yourself anyway.

Steve Warres -Franchise Consulting Specialists, with over 40 years of business ownership.