A CLOSE LOOK AT EDUCATORS ’ HEALTH AND WELLBEING IN THE DIGITAL AGE
BY : MURAD SALMAN MIRZA
Progressive institutions are
increasingly gaining sensitivity to the health and wellbeing of their workforce , with mental health coming to the forefront as a substantial concern in recent times , since conventional focus used to be on providing support and coverage for physical ailments . A key driver of deteriorating mental health is the pressure associated with staying relevant and competitive in the Digital Age in order to sustain a viable and productive ‘ career lifecycle ’ that can robustly stand up to dynamic changes in the marketplace for talent .
However , intrinsically-driven / highlyambitious professionals frequently tend to marginalize such concerns as they focus on career aspirations by embracing stressful conditions and diving into time-consuming complex / challenging assignments to impress influential sources of power with their professional abilities . This often leads to hiding / suppressing the knowledge from employers about existing conditions that might put careers in jeopardy , especially , where there is the proliferation of skilled labour ready and willing to take their place at a cheaper cost to the employer . Consequently , the future of organizations is precariously leveraged upon the apprehensive professionals who are actively gambling with their health and wellbeing due to the fear of being discovered as a ‘ costly ’ investment despite working for a seemingly ‘ caring ’ employer . The following tool has been developed for professionals caught in such a dilemma to facilitate an honest self-appraisal to take timely , appropriate and effective remedial actions for not only themselves but , more importantly , for the sake of their loved ones :
1 . Family ( Your bonds with the family ) a . Are you on bad terms with most members of your family ? b . Do most of your family members refuse to help you during challenging times ? c . Is there frequent conflict in your family ? d . Do you tend to avoid family gatherings ? e . Are you frequently approached by various members of your family for support , e . g ., financial , legal , health , resolving children-related issues , arbitration between feuding family members , etc .?
2 . Friends ( Your bonds with the friends ) a . Do you lack any close friends ? b . Have most of your friends refused to help you during challenging times ? c . Are you frequently involved in resolving the problems faced by your friends ? d . Does the circle of your friends include both from the workplace and in personal life ? e . Are your friends actually ‘ acquaintances ’, rather than , friends ?
3 . Personal and Professional Networks ( Your bonds with the wider humanistic circle ) a . Are you primarily an introvert by nature ? b . Do you like to develop relationships with other people based upon reciprocity ? c . Are you generally unwilling to forgive those who have wronged you in the past ? d . Are you naturally suspicious of people who are trying to reach out to you ? e . Are your personal and professional networks a source of stress for you ?
4 . Self-Makeup ( Your bonds with yourself ) a . Are you often engulfed in selfreflection regarding stressful matters , e . g ., personal health issues , delicate financial situation , precarious career trajectory , traumatic memories , yearning for a meaningful life , etc .? b . Do you have difficulty in saying ‘ No ’ to people ? c . Do you have difficulty in saying ‘ Yes ’ to people ? d . Are you able to work long hours without adequate rest / sleep ?
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Term 2 Jan - Mar 2021 Class Time