This month’s question is:

What can I do to deal with the daily pressures associated with my job and my life?

And it is a very important and relevant question due to the fact that each and everyday someone somewhere has to either deal with or decide not to worry about the pressures or stress in their life.

As we know stress and pressure can be created and come from a wide array of situations and circumstance. Rather than spend time trying to work out how to deal with it, if and when it occurs. I thought it better to outline a few ideas that might help us reduce the frequency of having to deal with it at all.

But after a period of time I found that my few ideas had become a lot of ideas. So rather than throw everything at you at once I have split my ideas up into two. We will post the first group today and the next group next month.

In the meantime please do not hesitate to post a response to anything you read or any comment you might have about the subject of Dealing With Stress/Pressure.

Have a plan
The more you know where it is you are going and why, the easier it will become to get there.

Change what you can
There are always situations we face on a daily basis that we either do not like or are not happy about. If you have the time and the ability to change them then do so.

See a donut not a hole
See opportunities in everything you do or encounter. This does not mean you have to like everything. It just means you see opportunity in it.

Have a circle of influence
Some of the initial reactions when stress or adversity comes are to withdraw into our own little world and to start thinking about certain situations in a less than rational manner. Have a group of people around you that you can spend time with and talk things through with.

Have a balanced lifestyle

This does not mean equally balanced. It just means there are things in your life that you should spend time doing. Workout what they are then make sure you spend time doing them.

• Family and relationships
• Career and finance
• Health, fitness and exercise
• Self education
• Hobbies and interests

Think things through and make a decision
Procrastination causes us undue time and stress. Think through what needs to be done, use all resources available to you and then make a decision.

Make sure you sleep
You must balance out between getting enough sleep and getting good quality unbroken sleep. But don’t sleep your life away.

A little bit of Monty Python
In other words, always look on the bright side of life.

Control
We have all heard it a thousand times. But here it is again. Only spend time and effort on the things you can control. Not on the things you cannot.

Self management
Without moving away from the spontaneity that life presents. Make sure you are managing yourself and what, how and why you do the things you do.

Definition of Success
Know in your own mind what it is you want and the expectations that you are prepared to place upon yourself. Be realistic in what you ask of yourself. Try to avoid others imposing on you how it is you should be successful.

Be where you are, when you are there
Make sure to live where you are. When doing something don’t be thinking that you should be somewhere else.

First and foremost do what you are entrusted to do
Each and everyday we entrust certain things to others so that they can help us. The more we do this the more we are putting ourselves in a situation where the end result is out of our hands. In saying that don’t try to do everything yourself. But at the same do not delegate those things that are really your own responsibility.

Learn to trust
After the point above I though it imperative that we must continue to build trust with each other. Build that trust based on a set of guidelines so you have consistency in how it is you develop trust with someone.

Learn to relax
Find the things that take you away from the pressures of everyday life. Not just one or two, but outline quite a few. Have a wide variety so that each and everyday you can incorporate then into your life.

Know that you are good, but not that good
Understand and appreciate the things you can achieve in your life. Do what you can to constantly improve upon them. But don’t waste time and effort in trying to prove to others that you are the best at everything.

Day dream

Spend a little time each and everyday thinking about the possibilities that the future can bring.

Prioritise
Spend time doing what needs to be done, when it needs to be done and in the manner and at the standard that is required. Don’t prioritise your schedule — schedule your priorities.”

Know your friends and have them know you
We are all individuals and that is what makes this existence we are in so interesting but complex. Learn to accept others for who they are and at the same time allow the others the opportunity to accept you for who you are.

Know and understand you
There are people, situations and occurrences that push our buttons. Make sure you know yourself well enough to realise when you are under pressure and learn to deal with it. Don’t just accept it as part of everyday life.

Learn to have fun and to be funny
Laughter is recognised universally as a great stress reliever. Make sure that you take the time each and everyday to laugh at the things you find amusing. Also do what you can to add a little laughter in to the lives of those around you.

Don’t wait for the fireworks
Each and everyday we do things that help others or to help ourself. We get results we make accomplishments, we get things done. Make sure that each and everyday we get a little pat on the back for doing certain things and doing them well. Don’t wait for the fireworks to go off before you recognise your accomplishments.

Food for thought
Although it is at times very comforting to eat certain types of food when you are stressed, the best solution is to eat a well balance nutritious diet so that your mind is always clear and alert and ready to tackle the challenges that each day brings.

Saving for a rainy day

Regardless of how little you bank, try to each and very week to put some money away for a time when you really need it. Although there are important things now to use this money for, when those unexpected bills arrive, you will be grateful for what you have done.

The Journey Continues!

This entry was posted on Friday, June 20th, 2008 at 11:48 am and is filed under tpc, behaviour, Ask Bill a Question, Performance. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.