Managing Stress, part 2

stress-ball

I have talked before about pressure at work, some of the triggers of stress and the tell-tale signs of too much stress. But what about if you work all the time? Are you a workaholic?

The definition of a workaholic is someone who has an obsession with work. They are now referred to as “work dependents” and are described as such when work has become a crutch that is shoring up other less successful parts of their lives. Raj Persaud in his book, “The Motivated Mind”, recommends the following tactics:

  • Plan two fun things a week to look forward to and give yourself a break
  • Delegate tasks and manage your own control needs
  • Set boundaries about what is achievable at work in a typical 8 hour day
  • Remember you don’t have to catch every ball
Personality, stress and work: who do you know who is a Type A Personality?

Does the following description bring anyone to mind?

  • Goal directed or pushy, competitive, with an excessive drive and an enhanced sense of urgency.
  • Naturally suffers from irritation, hostility and an increased potential for anger.
  • Huge frustration with others who are not as fast as them and so get in the way.

Problems arise when an A type Personality works in a high stress environment. A very common occurrence and society rewards them! To assist them lessen their chances of heart attack gentle to moderate exercise is recommended!

Tips for managing stress levels at work:
  • List what you can & cannot control. Recognise that the “cannot control list” is not worthy of your worry and energy!
  • Prioritise what you can control. Take small steps each day to progress the list and getfeedback early on if you are not sure about your skill level.
  • Take time out to get some perspective because when you are in the thick of it you cannot really appreciate what impact it’s having.
  • Stop beating yourself up, accept that you cannot change the past but that you canchoose how to act in the future. Record regularly what you have been successful in and review this to keep positive.
  • Be realistic about what you can achieve on your own. Asking for help is OK!
  • Build in time to relax and sleep.
  • Talk to someone at work that you respect or confide in someone outside of work.
  • Keep a diary to note down when you are stressed to increase your awareness about yourpersonal triggers.
  • Imagine someone else had this problem – what would they do? This gives youperspective.
  • Focus on the solution and what action can be taken.
  • Make a decision, having weighed up all the options – you usually feel better once it’s stopped whizzing round in your head.
  • Remember back to when you have successfully survived other stressful periods in your life and think about what strategies you used then.
  • Take time for exercise, sport, meditation, reading what ever is your thing. Singing is great for reducing blood pressure!
  • Think through the worst case scenario and put a plan in place to aim to avoid this and have a contingency plan if the worst did happen.
  • Adjust your standards if you are a perfectionist and go for 80% not 120%.
  • Attend any training & development on time management and stress management. Which of these ideas might work for you or people you work with? Only yesterday I was working with a client who was really suffering from stress and it’s not a good place to be. Managing your optimum stress levels is a skill worth learning.

Which of these ideas might work for you or people you work with? Only recently I was working with a client who was really suffering from stress and it’s not a good place to be. Managing your optimum stress levels is a skill worth learning.  If you would like help with developing that skill, get in touch.   

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