People are significantly more stressed by their jobs as online work creates “hypervigilance”, according to Stella O’Malley. 

The psychologist said people today are “wired” into thinking they enjoy excessive stress at work.  

Ms O’Malley told The Pat Kenny Show the ability to work remotely should have reduced stress levels – but stress levels have only increased.  

Work 'machismo'

“When we were first told about emails and mobiles and stuff that you could do your work on the beach, we didn't realize that we would be expected to do our work on the beach,” she said. 

Ms O’Malley said because “we’re never quite off” the clock, people have tried to convince themselves they enjoy excessive work.  

“It has led us into this kind of machismo idea of, 'Yeah, I'm living on coffee, and I sleep very little and I'm thriving on it’,” she said.  

“It's a culture that creates an awful lot of very sick people as a result, because we're trying to keep up with a very ill idea of how to enjoy your work life.” 

Physical consequences 

Increased workload has led to reduced health in several ways, according to Ms O’Malley.  

“You can see it in people’s skin," she said. “You can see it in people putting on weight, their posture.” 

“People's hair goes grey, and our skin goes grey. There’s a jelly kind of haggard look to their skin. 

“Those visible impacts are almost a kind of picture of how your emotional brain is getting haggard from continuous stress.” 

Social consequences 

People now have a ‘hypervigilance’ about their jobs as less people work traditional hours.  

“There isn't a kind of 9-to-5 anymore or ‘isn't everybody goes out for drinks on Friday’,” she said.  

She said people are working various days and times – which makes a social life more difficult.  

“There isn't a culture of togetherness,” she said. “When you're off work and other your mates aren't necessarily all so you're more likely to be lonely.” 

Perspective 

Ms O’Malley urged anyone who is too stressed by their job to “learn a bit about perspective because we can let jobs take over”. 

She recommended finding new hobbies such as literature and music “so your life isn't your work”. 

She said if people are still struggling after trying to gain perspective, they may be in the wrong career.

“If you can't do that, maybe you should really rethink your career,” she said.  

“Look at people in their 60s and 70s and 80s - they're not saying, ‘I'm thrilled I devoted my whole life to work’.”