Relieving Stress as the Deadline Draws Near – Part I
(Part One of a Two-Part Series)
You still have a few weeks until the April 17th deadline, and chances are you’re swamped with tax forms and to-do lists. And while you probably recognize that the busier you are the more lucrative the season, it doesn’t make the stress go away. But there are some things you can do to better manage the stress and alleviate some of the anxiety. Here are 10 of 20 stress relieving techniques that we hope will help.
1. Get up 15 minutes early.
Having the extra time to get ready for the day ahead is always good. Use the time to take a deep breath, enjoy a good breakfast, or plan your day.
2. Take the time to plan your day.
Sometimes we let ourselves get caught up in the chaos of the day without really planning for it. Take some time before you start working to order your priorities and make lists of what needs to be done.
3. Be realistic.
When planning your day, be realistic. Have a list of must-do’s and another list of would-be-nice-to-do’s. When we have unrealistic expectations, we invite stress into our lives.
4. Avoid procrastination.
Procrastination causes stress. And you might be surprised at all the time you waste worrying about those tasks you’re procrastinating. Don’t put off anything you could realistically do today.
5. Tackle unpleasant tasks first.
People generally procrastinate unpleasant tasks (and procrastination causes stress). When planning your day, see that you tackle the unpleasant tasks first. You’ll find the rest of the day is much more enjoyable.
6. When you’ve reached maximum stress-capacity, take a break.
We all know the feeling; we’ve lost our focus and every task we undertake seems to be going wrong. That’s a sign that we’ve reached maximum stress-capacity and need a break. Do something enjoyable to give your brain a break.
7. Schedule breaks into your day.
Everyone needs a break to clear their mind and start again refreshed. Don’t just wait for those times when you’ve reached maximum stress-capacity; every couple hours take a break, even if it’s just to push yourself away from your desk to get a breath of fresh air.
8. Everyday treat yourself to something you enjoy.
Live is a dreary thing if you don’t enjoy it. Be sure that everyday you take the time to do something that makes you feel good: exercise, watch a favorite program, listen to music, talk to a friend.
9. Do things right the first time.
Never walk away from a task or project with the understanding that you’ll probably have to “fix” it later. If you know that it’s incomplete or incorrect, go back until the job is properly done. It saves you the time worrying about it later.
10. Get enough sleep.
It’s easier to face a full and chaotic day when you’ve gotten your sleep.While stress is inevitable this time of year, you can still manage that stress so that you don’t burn out. Take the time to take care of yourself. And return next week to read 10 more stress-relieving techniques.
