I’ve probably gotten two good night’s rest the past two weeks. I either can’t fall asleep, stay asleep or have bizarre dreams. While I know the reason why, it doesn’t make the situation easier. Actually, I was reading about the dangers of fatigue yesterday, which has only made me feel worse.  

Sleep, like many things, is something you take for granted until you can’t anymore. If there is any silver lining, it’s that I’m pausing to appreciate some other humdrum things around me: my aging but still working refrigerator, the chirps of crickets outside and the last bites of summer produce.  

My insomnia has also prompted me to put down my phone and pick up a book, and I’m finally making my way through Lily King’s Euphoria. I so appreciate how her novels are packed with impeccable word choices, obscure references, clever literary devices and delightful turns of phrase.

I suppose you could say the TL;DR version of this introduction is that no matter how difficult your present moment is, you can usually find some bright spots if you’re willing to look and able to recognize when you see them.

Until next time, stay safe, be well and be kind!

Workplace Stressors

I’ve read a lot about workplace stress over the years. After a while, they get repetitive. Not this piece from Gargi Sawhney and Mallory McCord in Harvard Business Review. I think I've read it fully twice and other passages about half a dozen times. It's a lot to process and reflect upon. 

Sawhney and McCord cite studies that verify what we already know: workloads are increasing. They sought to go beyond that and learn more about other workplace stressors and how they might be impacting us. Specifically, they researched role ambiguity, role conflict and role overload.

These factors can present and affect people in different ways. Still, they are a helpful lens with which to view the workplace because, as the authors note, these kinds of stress can be found in any industry, occupation or role.

The authors are careful not to paint the workplace landscape with broad strokes. They note that these workplace stressors may not be caused by lack of caring but by a failure to “respond at the wrong level or interpret the signals incorrectly.”

Fortunately, Sawhney and McCord offer concrete actions leaders can take, including questions to ask and how to provide role clarity. They cite actions organizations, such as Boeing and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Boeing, have taken to reduce stress and quantified outcomes as best as they can.  

Sawhney and McCord reviewed 60 years of research involving over 700,000 employees around the world. It’s not clear whether we should laugh or cry at how little has changed in the workplace over the years.

I suppose it is somewhat comforting to know that the same problems we’re facing were also shared by our parents and possibly grandparents. While some periods of stress are expected, or even a given, it’s clear that there needs to be a shake up in the workplace and that everyone needs to work to be part of the solution.

Read the full article here.

A New Milestone

For the first time, over 100,000 people in Japan are at least 100 years old. Yes, this is still a fraction of the country’s population of roughly 122 million people. But it’s still incredible for a couple notable reasons.

1. Japan is the first country to reach such a milestone.
2. It is the 56th consecutive year the number of people who are at least 100 years old has increased.

Okinawa, Japan, is one of a handful of worldwide blue zones, areas researchers designated for their longevity. Other researchers have observed some factors about Japanese culture that likely contribute to its residents’ longevity: a diet with lots of fish, vegetables and rice; an active lifestyle; and health care that is accessible and affordable.

While more people are living longer, Japan has long faced a declining birth rate and working-age population. That’s straining businesses and public resources that are trying to sustain daily life while also caring for an aging population. Earlier this year, The New York Times wrote about how bodybuilders, wrestlers and M.M.A. fighters have been recruited to fill a staffing shortage in Japan’s nursing homes.

An aging population does present some additional considerations. Still, it’s remarkable to reflect on what those 94,298 women and 13,379 men have witnessed in their 100-plus years on Earth.

Many outlets have reported on this news. Here’s a write up from USA Today.

Welcoming a New Crew Member

Some construction workers in Ohio heard cries coming from a piece of equipment.

The cries weren’t human but feline. After some work, the operating supervisor was able to free an orange tabby kitten from the bottom of a Komatsu excavator.

The cat, which they named Komatsu (Su for short), was placed in foster care for two weeks. She was adopted with the construction company’s shop mechanic, Jared. Jared says when she’s old enough, she’ll return to work as the company’s resident shop cat.

Komatsu has made sure Su's ready for the job. After news of Su’s surprise rescue, the construction equipment manufacturer sent her a custom size hard hat and safety vest.

Please, do yourself a favor, and click this link to see videos and photos of the adorable Su.