My apologies--I have been knee deep in tax returns as well as Peachtree client support and have neglected to update the blog. During this busy time I did have the opportunity to participate in a teleconference workshop on managing stress in the workplace sponsored by a firm in Pennsylvania whose excellent leadership development conference I attended this past fall. Though not Peachtree specific I wanted to share some of the highlights of this Gatto and Associates session with you.
Most of us have some feelings of stress caused by our workplace. Among the stressors in the workplace are certain colleagues, some managers, circumstances, and time management. One of the most insidious offenders is workload creep. Think about having a backpack on your back and every 1/4 hour we add one tablespoon of sugar to it. The first day no big deal; we may have 24 tablespoons. But after a month you would have close to 700 little scoops of sugar adding up to a very heavy pack to carry, but it creeped up on you. That is what stress can be like--a little bit each day till it is a heavy burden.
What can you do about managing stress at work? The standard solutions: get enough sleep, eat right, drink plenty of water and GET EXERCISE. Taking short walks in the middle of the day is an easy way to accomplish a break as well as exercise. Don't take on too much at once. Ask yourself if your expectations are realistic.
Are you walking out of the office at the end of each day with a sense of accomplishment or a sense of hopelessness? Some creative solutions to achieve that sense of accomplishment:
At the end of the day identify a project you want to work on tomorrow. Then when you come in the morning DON"T CHECK EMAIL OR VOICE MAIL for the first hour --do the project! Checking voice mail and email will take you in too many directions. Tell people to contact you about 8:30 or 9; come in at 7 and work for 1 1/2 hours to get that project done. BLOCK OFF PERIODS OF UNINTERRUPTED TIME.
I have found that implementing this has technique has definitely enhanced my time management skills and has decreased my stress level. Try it!
I will be checking in more often, I promise. Remember our users group meets at the end of April. I will have some Peachtree tips for you next time.
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