Address Stress with Your Choices
The other day a colleague came to me looking for advice and support with addressing the stressful situation at work that she was experiencing. She came prepared with a logical solution, a quick answer to her problems, the shortest distance to travel, so to speak. Unfortunately, because she was so deep into the situation, she couldn't see that her solution would have a negative impact on her career.
It's really tempting to take the shortest route, the shortcut approach, the easiest solution, when you are deep into a stressful situation. But before you do that, I suggest that you examine a few things first:
1. Remember that you are always making choices. Your stressful situation is most likely a result of your choices, and not forces outside of your control. Review the situation and identify the choices you made to bring you to this place.
2. Validate all aspects of your situation. Sometimes, we think we have to do something, be somewhere, achieve something, when that's not necessarily the case. We can be stressed out over our imagination!
3. Consider your priorities. Re-evaluate your goals and prioritize the ones that are most important to you at this time. Priorities change. Your perspective changes. Make choices that align with your priorities.
4. Consider your values. How do you define success at your job, at school, at home? Are you a perfectionist at all things? As you answer these questions, honestly reflect on what they mean, and who you need to be to live your values. Make choices that align with your values.
5. Don't forget to take care of yourself. We often put ourselves last when it comes to juggling multiple priorities -- this is frequently true of women. Last is not good! If you are tired or ill, you lack the energy and patience to manage all your responsibilities. You will not perform at your best level, which will only serve to frustrate you.
In the end, the shortcut may be the best choice for you, but you won't know for sure unless you examine all aspects of the situation.
Choose well!
It's really tempting to take the shortest route, the shortcut approach, the easiest solution, when you are deep into a stressful situation. But before you do that, I suggest that you examine a few things first:
1. Remember that you are always making choices. Your stressful situation is most likely a result of your choices, and not forces outside of your control. Review the situation and identify the choices you made to bring you to this place.
2. Validate all aspects of your situation. Sometimes, we think we have to do something, be somewhere, achieve something, when that's not necessarily the case. We can be stressed out over our imagination!
3. Consider your priorities. Re-evaluate your goals and prioritize the ones that are most important to you at this time. Priorities change. Your perspective changes. Make choices that align with your priorities.
4. Consider your values. How do you define success at your job, at school, at home? Are you a perfectionist at all things? As you answer these questions, honestly reflect on what they mean, and who you need to be to live your values. Make choices that align with your values.
5. Don't forget to take care of yourself. We often put ourselves last when it comes to juggling multiple priorities -- this is frequently true of women. Last is not good! If you are tired or ill, you lack the energy and patience to manage all your responsibilities. You will not perform at your best level, which will only serve to frustrate you.
In the end, the shortcut may be the best choice for you, but you won't know for sure unless you examine all aspects of the situation.
Choose well!
Quite inspiring,
This is some helpful advice to use in order to help with stress,
Keep up the good work
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