Stress is an integral part of life. It provides a positive pressure that enables us to make a good performance great and focus attention on achieving results in difficult or dangerous situations. But it becomes a negative force when it is handled badly or we don't balance our recovery time during or after a stressful period. It can then accumulate and become a negative and destructive experience, sometimes damaging people, relationships and even whole organisations through raised anxiety, fear, de-motivation and withdrawal.
But as a natural part of life, how can it be managed more effectively?
Balance your P's and R's
You can reduce your inclination to produce more pressure and stress in your own life, and then reflect these practices in your work.
The '3 PR'(c) method is a simple framework to help you develop a structure of performance that can relieve pressure and prevent a negative build-up of stress.
- Plan - spend adequate time thinking through your aims, objectives, options and actions.
- Prepare - allocate time, resources, people in advance - 'what would you do if' scenario.
- Perform - be confident in your own abilities, reinforced through practice and training.
- Reflect - step back and analyse your actions, causes and effects.
- Review - what could you do differently? What positive action can you take?
- Restore - take recovery time. Build up your strength as much as you give out.
Develop positive coping strategies. These can include the following:
- Space to think and reflect - create relaxing space at home and/or your workspace
- Positive thinking and action reduces worry and stress.
- Break challenges down into smaller, achievable tasks or steps.
- Be emotionally intelligent - don't over-think problems and get caught in over-emotional details.
- Take regular exercise in the fresh air. A good walk or cycle ride will clear your mind.
Career tips
We have responsibility for ourselves, as well as others in the workplace. Maintain a sense of personal and corporate team well-being:
- Balance your energy, activity and time
- Be realistically positive with yourself and others
- Try to find the better parts of any situation
- Be aware of your limits and those of others
- Spot danger signs and signals
- Stay focused on the matter in hand
- Understand that recovery time is as necessary as quality performance.
Tina Jefferies leads personal and team retreats and advises on creating stress-reducing spaces in the workplace for The Red Space Company. Visit www.redspacecompany.com.
