Improving Your Ability to Cope with Job Demands
The workplace has changed indeed
I can’t help but notice just how much more demanding the workplace has become. Timelines, deadlines, resources, and support that continue to shrink while expectations and demands continue to increase. Adjusting to this challenging reality requires one to be very adaptable and incredibly flexible.
Because of this, an ever-growing number of workers are trying various coping strategies to manage the changes and stressors in their lives. The question is, have you developed a route to ensure your well-being? Are you making use of effective time management and visualization techniques? Have you assessed your level of work-life balance?
If you answered yes to the questions above, then congratulations! Your challenge now is to stay on track!
What to do
So, what are you willing to do about it? Research has shown that well-being and job resilience are more likely to be part of your reality if you are taking care of yourself physically, socially, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. That might sound a lot of work but taking even small steps in the right direction can pay off in the long run.
Make a clear perspective shift and take care of your greatest asset – You!
- Express your need to the person you report to by stating exactly what your needs are and providing an example. Be assertive but respectful, responsible, and honest.
- Address your “challenges” before they become “problem” and divide your time appropriately by prioritizing your job demands.
- Take a proactive approach rather than a reactive one to managing work and life.
- Take short breaks throughout the day to clear your mind.
- Ensure you are getting enough sleep & meeting your nutritional requirements.
- Recharge your batteries by securing time to do something in addition to the work that you enjoy.
- Celebrate your successes!
Making an improvement
Improvement in time management starts with a commitment to take action and make changes. There are various techniques for making better use of your time as well as tools to make the task easier. Time management software, daily/weekly agenda planners, and “At-A-Glance” desktop monthly planners are the ones most commonly used. Do your research and identify the one that fits your situation and personal style the best.
A key element to effective time management is the practice of dividing your work according to you and your employer’s priorities. With a shortage of time and more to do on your plate, take time to determine which tasks are both important and urgent. When possible, enlist the aid of other employees when delegating is an option.
TIPS:
- Prioritize your obligations on a scale of 0 (least important) to 10 (most important) and evaluate the level of urgency for each
- Leave some “insurance” time in your schedule for unplanned activities and unexpected emergencies.
- Get the facts! Half of all worries are caused by people trying to make decisions before they have all the facts on which to base the decision.
Come to your conclusion only after you’ve received sufficient knowledge. Then, once a decision is made, act on it. Get busy carrying out your choice – and dismiss all anxiety about the outcome. When you are tempted to worry about a problem, write out, and answer the following questions:
- What is the problem?
- What is the cause of the problem?
- What are all possible solutions?
- What is the best solution?
Final Thoughts
Once you have all of the facts, you can start to develop an “action plan,” but for a plan to be effective, it requires a clear goal. Setting realistic goals that can be achieved is essential to the success of goals setting, use the S.M.A.R.T plan to reduce your stress, and improve your outcomes!
