Stress Management at work

Something I hear very often when I work under pressure is how can I be so calm …

The truth is that there is actually a storm inside me but over the years I have learned that panic is no good. There are just some basic things I do, for the stress management required at work. Find below my little secrets that seem to work.

First of all, make a list of all the tasks to be done, in order of priority. At first it is very difficult as everything seems to have priority, but when you realize that it is not possible to do everything at the same time then you will be able to figure out the priority order. Then start doing the jobs in this order one by one without mixing them – as possible as it can be – and  when you finish it go to the next one. So the jobs are actually over and they don’t all stay in half. Time is also something difficult to manage. Just think of the deadline and tell yourself that you will have it finished by then, trying not to let time stress you. Personally, you will often hear me say in my work “everything will be done” trying to reassure those around me as their calmness often plays an  important role in the smooth flow of things. You will say, what if you do not really get something on time. In this case I will answer that most of the time there might a slight delay and that is not the end of the world. On the other hand if you don’t make it at all then you have to consider that you did what was humanly possible and you are not a superwoman!

Prioritize your own work and try not to interrupt it constantly by trying to help others. If you constantly interrupt the flow of your work, you will lose your concentration. So if someone asks for your help, depending on the importance of the situation, you kindly inform him that you will help him shortly. Of course you do not expect to do it the next day when you have finished everything but between your own tasks. Once you have finished the job you were doing at the moment, go and help your colleague and then proceed to your next task.

Do not forget to eat something, even something small. Otherwise, two things will happen. The first is that you will lose your strength and the second is that you will have a stomach ache.  The same applies to water, we need it!

Be as “thick skinned” as you can, Do not expect a reward. Job is not a school. So do not worry if you do not always receive the credit you deserve. On the other hand, as sad as it can be, there will be times when you will not be able to accomplice something because it simply was not possible. There is also failure in the “game of work”.

Finally something that is important for your concentration is visiting the toilet. Do not let your mind be blocked by this natural need. You will find that even if you do not understand the mind it works more slowly when nature calls.