With just over 4 weeks till Christmas, the pressure is on to get everything in order before we close the doors for the well-deserved break. So how can you stay sane during the craziest, busiest times when the pressure is on and stress levels are rising?
Keep calm, it’s only Christmas
Learning how to remain calm in times of stress will not only have immediate effects, it can also over time, help you manage these situations better throughout the year.
Here are our steps to take to keep your cool when the heat is on:
The cause of your stressIs your heart racing because some crazy driver just cut you off? Or is it really because of the major tribunal happening tomorrow? Think for a moment about what is really bothering you and can you control it.
A positive responseEven if you can’t change the source of your stress, you can choose how you respond to it. The appropriate response should depend on what’s causing it, most things can be resolved. Ask yourself some questions: Will this matter in a week, a month, a year? How much control do I have of the situation?
Take actionGetting stressed or sitting around worrying or procrastinating isn’t going to resolve anything. Sometimes the hardest part is just getting stuck into it. Once you’re into it, you’ll be far less stressed and wonder what you were so worried about.
One step at a timeSometimes resolving a situation will take several steps, or you may have several things to get done. Write out a plan and time frame for completing each task. Then, just take one step at a time and just put one foot in front of the other. (Think about how you can plan better for next time).
What can you control?If a situation is beyond your control, then there’s no use worrying about something you can’t change. Try deep breathing, distracting yourself with something else that makes you happy. Visualise relaxing things, physically remove yourself from the location of the stress. (Try the ‘Calm’ app to assist).
Set realistic expectationsIf you continue to be stressed, perhaps you aren’t setting yourself realistic goals, time-frames for completion, or expectations with your clients. Sometimes it can be hard to accept that we can’t do everything. Reduce the expectations either from yourself or those around you and learn from your experiences.
