But, he didn’t talk about his cruise as if it was a bad thing, rather, it was a recognition that he was a robot, working his life away while focused solely on the task of making a living, and without the wise intervention of his wife he’d be there still. Yet, even machines need regular maintenance so what is the cost of such dedication to this wondrous machine that we call human being? Damage to relationships, certainly, but what about the damage to self?

Stress plays a huge part in escalating illnesses and the costs of treating them and what is the major source of modern stress? Our jobs. While our European cousins receive an average of five weeks of vacation per year, Americans receive two weeks. With corporate downsizing, budget reductions and technological advances we are repeatedly asked to do more with less. Great for business right? Wrong!  Workplace stress manifests itself in lower productivity, absenteeism, staff burnout and turnover, workers’ compensation, medical insurance and other expenses and is estimated to cost U.S. employers a whopping $200 billion per year!

So, what EXACTLY causes stress?