Dec 08 2008
Smart Guy on Priorities
Do you ever have too many demands and too little time to complete them? It is often a problem trying to balance today’s priorities with today’s deadlines. Most deadlines are imposed on us by others. These deadlines create pressures and stress.
A common example of how we deal with pressure is the teapot. As the teapot gets hotter and hotter, it begins to boil. After an extended period of time, it boils over or starts to whistle. It does not stop boiling until the pressure is released. This happens either by too much water changing into steam, or by reducing the heat under the teapot.
We are made up similar to a teapot. We are built to handle a certain amount of pressure. As more responsibilities are added, and we approach deadlines, how we react to pressure is something that everyone must take responsibility for and manage.
Tools that are recommended include spending time at the start of each day and planning your day. Look at what you will be able to accomplish and focus on getting things done. This is very helpful to most jobs. Other jobs require building in slack time. Slack time allows for multiple interruptions that occur during the day. While this may not look as productive, in many cases it is realistic. Practicing these tools for a 30-day period will help develop successful habits.
What is also important to look at when “checkin’ the teapot” is what other stress does your life hold? Keeping a psychological balance between stress and non-stress involves looking at all stressors that we encounter. Keeping a balance requires we understand our work/life events and balance the stress with enough non-stress activities/time.
Look at how much time you work hard. Balance this with an appropriate amount of non-stress, pressure-releasing activities/time.
