Stress Busting
By Ian Harding
Hustle and bustle is common place but what happens when the stress gets to be too much? Life Coach, Ian Harding who has had plenty of stress in his time, investigates.
My mind is full with a hundred requests, all of them jostling in my mind for position, screaming that they are the most important. It feels as if each of the tasks are pushing against the side of my skull and threatening to come out. My head begins to ring with a dull thud and I know a headache is coming on. I long to lock myself in a room, away from all this pressure and simply forget.
But that’s not going to happen. At that moment someone comes with another request, which is really a problem in disguise, looking to me to fix it. My eyes narrow. The pressure which has been threatening all morning turns from simmer to boil. Then the pressure cap explodes in dramatic style. I release all of my frustration on the person in front of me, stopping only as I see the tears welling in their eyes. I finish, my breath coming in short, quick gasps. They walk away without saying another word. I feel terrible.
Many of us will recognise the effects of what I call ‘The Stress Factor’. It’s not pleasant and its effects usually outlast the outburst. Aside from the damage they do to those around us these outbursts do little good for us either. The question is how do we avoid them?
Stress is a part of life. Each one of us deals with it daily. The stress factor occurs when all of the pressures become too much to handle.
But do not worry; life does not have to be this way. There are some easy steps you can take to banish the stress factor and the associated repercussions. Help is always at hand.
First Things First
Stress is at its worst when the pressures are greatest. A deadline looming; a client who needs a problem rectified immediately; a number of ‘unexpecteds’ all cropping up at the same time; others letting us down.
The first step to cracking the stress factor is to prioritise. This means looking at all the tasks and deciding which one needs done first. When doing this, don’t agonise; make a quick decision. Far too much valuable time can be wasted by over analysing a situation.
If you have known about the tasks in advance prioritising is just as vital. This way you give yourself the time and space to organise a work schedule which will ensure the jobs are done on time and well. Most of the pressure situations we find ourselves in can be traced back to the area of poor planning or not appreciating the difficulty of the task until it is too late. Organising will relieve you from any potential stress.
The other benefit of this approach is that you will do work to a much higher standard and discover you are far more capable than you thought!!
Delegate, Delegate, Delegate!
You are not superhuman and were never intended to be. Delegation is a much underused tool in eliminating the stress factor. The temptation can be to try to do everything ourselves. This is foolish. We simply can’t do everything.
A great 19th century man D L Moody had these wise words on delegation. ‘I would rather equip a thousand men to fulfil their destiny than do the work of a thousand men’. The point is Moody makes is that it is easier to empower those around us than to try to be the superhero.
Delegation has another benefit too: it empowers those we lead. It will see people rise to the challenge and grow in their skills and talents. In any organisation this can only be a good thing.
So as you do you initial assessment of all the tasks you face, seeking to prioritise the most important, ask yourself another important question: Is there anything here that can be done better by someone else? This is not an opportunity for you to get others to do your work but for you to lead well. You should only delegate those jobs which are others. The tasks you have been given you must carry. It is your job.
Be Focused
One of the great enemies of work being done well within the deadline is distraction. Life can be so busy. Distractions abound: TV, nights out, gossip in the office, internet, facebook, the staff canteen/café/staffroom, etc.
This is where we need to be the most disciplined. So you’ve organised, prioritised, you’ve delegated effectively to ensure the work will be completed early (always plan to be early – it prepares you for the unexpecteds!), now you need to get on with the task in hand. I guarantee you that it is at this point that a distraction will occur. You suddenly remember a household task you forgot to do, you remember that you promised to call your brother, or you find yourself in a very interesting discussion. Two hours slip by. You’re behind and there’s deadline you’re not going to meet. The stress factor rears its head and you feel the pressure mounting.
Now I’m exaggerating for effect. It’s never quite this clear cut and often it takes a number of these distractions for us to see the impact in our work and by the time we realise we’re in trouble, we’re stressed already! By then it’s too late.
This is why it’s so important to remain disciplined and stick to the task in hand. It doesn’t mean avoiding work colleagues, it’s simply saving social time for later. If you get the work done first, you’ll have more time to socialise.
Stress Free Living
So there you have it. Beating the stress factor. Prioritise. Delegate. Focus. Welcome to living out of the clutches of the stress factor. It’ll improve your work relationships no end. I challenge you, no, I dare you. Make the changes; see the results!
Ian Harding is the Manager of MegaLearn at the Megacentre in Sheffield. Over seeing educational programes for asylum seekers and refugees from around the world. Before stating a conversation with him - make sure you've got plenty of time. Full of energy and passionate about what he does.