How to organize better at work to avoid stress
Dave Bowman, a human resource consultant, suggests that ultimately, the employee must manage stress at work. He offers these organizing suggestions:
Get to the office 15 minutes earlier every day, thus taking the “rush” out of the morning.
Don’t trust your memory; write everything down.
Try not to overschedule yourself or your projects. Don’t promise what you can’t easily deliver.
Be realistic regarding your standards. Don’t set them beyond your reach.
Maintain your humor. Even a disaster can be funny.
Plan B should always be ready.
Blow off steam. Get things off your chest.
Take some quiet time for meditation or deep breathing, particularly when you feel stress building.
Each evening, prioritize activities for the next day.
Establish deadlines for yourself, and stick to them.
Before making or taking a phone call, ask yourself, “Is this call really necessary?”
Eliminate or deflect drop-in visitors that waste your time.
Try to avoid rush hour by changing your work schedule.
Ask yourself if a job can be delegated to someone else.
Don’t always say “yes” to tasks thrown your way.
Decide if a meeting is really necessary. Are there alternate ways to distribute or collect the information?
Try to see the other person’s point of view. Listen and gain insight.
A personal stress test
Do you see yourself here?
Do you feel a constant pressure to achieve?
Do you criticize yourself when you’re not perfect?
Do you feel you haven’t done enough, no matter how hard you try?
Do you give up pleasure in order to be the best in everything you do?
Do you have to be perfectly in control at all times?
Do you worry about how you appear to others when you are nervous?
Do you feel that any lack of control is a sign of weakness or failure?
Are you uncomfortable delegating projects to others?
Does your self-esteem depend on everyone else’s opinion of you?
Do you sometimes avoid assignments because you’re afraid of disappointing your boss?
Are you better at caring for others than caring for yourself?
Do you keep most negative feelings inside to avoid displeasing others?
Do you feel you can never do as good a job as other people?
Do you feel your judgment is poor?
Do you feel you lack common sense?
Do you feel like an impostor when told your work is good?
Yes answers indicate potential roadblocks to a stress-free work life.
10 useful time-management tips
Rogers & Gray Insurance Company encourages its managers to:
1. Clean off your desk.
2. Make list of pending projects; cross off list as they are completed.
3. Take frequent breaks.
4. Avoid interruptions, if possible.
5. Go home on time.
6. Create time for yourself, family/friends.
7. Ask questions to clarify job expectations.
8. Make job more fun – create games or tricks to help make it fun.
9. Delegate – get help.
10. Discover your own talents. Make suggestions to improve a particular task – brainstorm.
Cape Business Newsletters
Keep up with the latest issues affecting your business and your life! To sign up for any of the Cape Business newsletters, click here.