October 2012 - Issue 99 - www.clareevans.co.uk

Hello ,

People seem to be back and running at full speed now that the Summer holidays are well and truly over and it's been a busier month - for many people I've been speaking to.

It's good to know but it can also add to the pressure and stress if you don't have good time habits in place to be able deal with the busy times or manage an increase in your workload.

One client recently said they wouldn't have been able to cope with everything that's been going on (both personally and in their business) if it hadn't been for changes they've made to the way they work.

Stress is very often linked to poor time habits and not being able to finding time in a busy day. This month's article will help you to identify and deal with stress in yourself and others.

The 30 Day Time Challenge is now available for your Kindle or e-Reader.

Keep in touch and get extra tips from my blog - or Follow Me on Twitter - or contact me on Linked In or Facebook.

Clare

P.S. Feel free to pass this newsletter on to your friends and colleagues.  Thank you.

We feel stress when we're under pressure, tense, anxious and frustrated.  When demands on us are too much to deal with and we feel we're not able to cope or feel overwhelmed.

While many people enjoy the demands of a busy job or being able to juggle several projects at one time, symptoms of stress often go unnoticed or are ignored until it's too late.

Too much stress leads to reduced efficiency, poor performance, feelings of overwhelm and eventually burnout or illness.

We all know someone who has either left work or been signed off sick with 'stress' - often for long periods of time, so the impact can be expensive for businesses and far-reaching for individuals.

How stress impacts us differs from one person to another - what is stressful to one isn't necessarily stressful to someone else.

Common sources of work related stress:

- Major business or work changes
- Changes in your financial situation
- Change in responsibilities, working hours or conditions
- Relationships with your boss, colleagues, clients and customers
- Work overload
- Working long hours
- Travel and commuting
- Uncertainty

Signs of stress:

- Stomach problems
- Headaches
- Muscular tension and strain
- High blood pressure
- Changes in appetite
- Changes in mood or behaviour
- Anxiety, tiredness and depression
- Throat and skin problems
- Sleeplessness
- Use of alcohol, stimulants or drugs
- Forgetfulness and confusion
- Relationship issues - both at work and at home.
 

Managing stress:

Identify the main sources of stress in your life.  Look at what you might be able to change and decide to do something about it. Don't worry about those things which are out of your control.

Plan, prioritise and organise your time - you can't do everything, focus on the important, avoid constantly working on the urgent (which causes more stress), ask for help when you need to.

Write things down - often we worry because we're thinking too much, especially if you can't sleep.  Writing things down can help make sense of a problem and get it in perspective.

Set better boundaries around your time - stress often comes from outside - other people and demands in an already busy day. Taking on more than you can cope with - don't feel bad about saying no, if by saying yes you're adding to your stress levels.

Look after yourself - Exercise is important in reducing stress yet it's something we often feel too tired to do or can't find time to fit in to a busy schedule. Build exercise or activity into your daily routine.

Eat well - at times of stress eating habits change. You reach for packaged or convenience foods, grab snacks and skip lunch.  Find time to eat a healthy and more balanced diet and drink plenty of water.

Change your mind. Can you change the way you feel about the situation to see it more positively or look at it in a different way? 

Communicate how you are feeling. Share your challenges and issues, get a fresh perspective and solutions to your problems.

Learn to relax. Do something you enjoy to take your mind off the day-to-day pressure of everyday life. Listen to music, read a book, learn to meditate or use simple breathing techniques.

The Time Audit can help you identify your own stress levels and time habits - download it today or get in touch for a free chat.

Until next month,