6.3 General
Guidelines for Stress Management
1)
You must get rid of less effective
strategies such as :
a)
Escaping from the stressful situation
(withdrawal)
b)
Denying that stress exists (denial)
c)
Seeing one’s problems as other people’s
problems (Projection)
d)
Becoming obsessed about achieving
routine work
e)
Working harder
f)
Changing to a different work task
(Cranwell-Ward, 1987, pp.116-118).
2)
Develop your self management skills.
3)
Improve your emotional management.
4)
Manage relationships more effectively.
5)
Improve your problem-solving approach.
6)
Assess your outlook on life and develop
a more positive distance if necessary.
7)
Develop an effective approach to
managing change.
8)
Seek outside help if necessary.
9)
Develop ways to reduce negative effects
of stress such as:
a)
Learn to appreciate the potential value
of stress in creating incentive and sense of purpose, which
we all need in our lives
b)
Get to know yourself and become fully
aware of your personality type
c)
Remember that stress is caused from
within and can be best dealt with from within
d)
Be aware of your own stress levels
e)
Learn to identify the various sources of
stress inherent in your own particular life style
f)
Be aware of your reactions to different
sources of stress, so that do not take you by surprise
g)
Avoid perfectionism, when this means
expecting too much of both yourself and others
h)
Avoid unnecessarily provoking situations
where possible
i)
Avoid over committing yourself “learn
when to say “no” without feeling guilty
j)
Avoid fragmentation which is often
caused by trying to do several things at one time
k)
Know how to avoid causing stress to
others
l)
Be aware of unnecessary worrying
m)
Anticipate stress and plan your response
to it.
10)
Learn the value of positive thinking.
11)
Discover how effective a cheerful
outlook can be.
12)
Be, as sure as you can be, of what your
motives really are and make sure that you are really happy
with them.
13)
Acquire the habit of sorting your
priorities.
14)
Learn the art of effective delegation.
15)
Get into the habit of talking problems
through rather that bottling them up.
16)
Don’t forget that listening is as
important as talking in effective communication.
17)
Learn to value physical fitness as a
means to realization and antidote to stress, and do all you
can to acquire it (Cranwell –Ward, 1987, pp.121-122; Dore
1990, pp. 13-14).
18)
Develop a sense of quiet and engineer
your environment.
19)
Keep your work and private life
separate.
20)
Build a satisfying family life.
21)
Do what you enjoy and enjoy what you do.
22)
Manage your time.
23)
Take time away from work. (GUPCO, 1999).
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