If you’re a boss, manager, director, or leader of any kind, I offer you this suggestion:
Regardless of how difficult or stressful the job, day, or project may be, never suggest or imply to your people that alcohol is necessary or advisable as a means of managing stress.
Statements like:
“I’m going to need a glass or two of wine after this day.”
“This was a tough day, folks, so if you go home and enjoy an adult beverage, I wouldn’t blame you.”
… are stupid things to say because the use of alcohol should never be promoted by a leader for a few reasons:
- You may be speaking to someone who is sober and trying to remain sober, so creating a culture where alcohol consumption is normalized and advisable isn’t helpful.
- Encouraging the use of alcohol in almost any circumstance is foolish.
- Alcohol is not an effective means of stress reduction. It creates a temporary feeling of relaxation because of it:
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- Slows brain activity
- Lowers inhibitions, thereby reducing stress temporarily.
- Increases levels of GABA (a calming neurotransmitter).
However, these effects are temporary and only mimic the feelings of actual stress reduction.
Cnsuming alcohol in moderation is perfectly fine (though recent research may indicate otherwise), but consuming alcohol to achieve stress relief is actually harmful to your ability to feel relaxed long-term by:
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- Increasing anxiety and stress later via “rebound anxiety” as alcohol wears off.
- Disrupting sleep by lowering overall sleep quality, making you more tired and irritable.
- Altering brain chemistry, worsening depression and anxiety over time.
Thinking that a glass or two of wine or alcohol of any kind is a cure for the day’s stress is a fool’s errand — a temporary, potentially detrimental solution to a real problem,
If you want to help reduce your employee’s stress levels, real solutions exist:
- Suggest exercise. Maybe purchase a membership to a local gym or hire a yoga instructor to teach in the workplace twice a week.
- Purchase a meditation app for the staff.
- Create a recommended playlist on Spotify and encourage employees to do the same and listen often.
- Send your people home an hour early to spend time sitting under a tree or petting a cat. Maybe even purchase an office cat.
- Send your team to a comedy show or purchase a subscription to “The Onion.”
- Ensure that your insurance plan includes provisions for mental health and preventative care.
These strategies are healthy, long-term means of actually reducing stress and relaxing without stupidly promoting or encouraging alcohol consumption.
