Reduce Stress To Maximize Efficiency

The right amount of stress can be good for you, such as when an impending deadline pushes you to work faster. Too much stress, however, becomes conterproductive because you start to make mistakes, become confused and muddled, or lose concentration.

When you get too stressed, you tend to push yourself even harder, which only increases stress and inefficiency. So, you need to take a moment to stop and think. No matter how much pressure you're under, it'll be more productive to take the time to step back and put things in persepective. Think about what's more important to you and establish priorities. Under stress, you thoughtlessly take up each task as it comes along, without establishing which ones are more or less important to you.

Once you have a clear understanding of your priorities, then use those priorities to guide your next step. You cannot do everything that you want to do all the time, but you can maintain a balance between tasks that are important and enjoyable to you and tasks that must be done regardless. Maintaining this balance is a very important key to controlling stress.

Stress comes from two sources: internal and external. External sources of stress are external events or problems, such as a drastic drop in sales. Whereas, internal sources of stress come from self-inflicted pressure. For example, if you pin all your dreams for the future on one job interview, you are adding pressure to the situation.

To deal with the outside sources of stress, take each problem and decide whether or not there is something you can do. For large problems, such as a family memeber's illness, there is often nothing you can do. For small problems on which you can take action, first identify the problem. You can even give it a name because, you can often battle a problem more succesfully that you've identified by name.

Then brainstorm with family, friends or collegues and develop as many solutions as possible. It doesn't matter if some ideas don't seem feasible; the aim is to generate an exhaustive list of ideas.

Finally, select a solution to your problem, try it out, and evaluate the results. Above all, persist until you feel better.

Here are few more things you can do to relieve stress.

* Always have your goals written down on note cards and carry them with you. Reminding yourself what you are working towards in your future is naturally uplifting and causes your stress level to go down.

* Go out of your office or home and take a short walk. Leaving the environment for even a few minutes will help you release stress.

* Set aside thrity minutes each day for quiet meditation and deep breathing.

All contents Copyright(c)2005 Joe Love and JLM & Associates, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Joe Love draws on his 25 years of experience helping both individuals and companies build their businesses, increase profits, and achieve total success. A former ad agency executive and marketing consultant, Joe's work in personal development focuses on helping his clients identify hidden marketable assets that create windfall opportunities and profits, as well as sound personal happiness and peace.

Reach Joe at: joe@jlmandassociates.com

Read more articles and newsletters at: http://www.jlmandassociates.com/

---

10 Symptoms of Workplace Stress

It is no secret that stress and related disorders are... Read More

Overcoming Stress: Successful Living The Easy Way

So many of us live a stressful life. Unfortunately, when... Read More

Self Indulgence: It Isn?t Just About Chocolate

It's no secret that we women, by virtue of our... Read More

Stress Management: Have To Vs. Get To

File this one under the category of "watch your language."The... Read More

Stress Management: Are You a Worrier or a Warrior?

Do you attack problems and solve them or do you... Read More

Rested? The Three Keys to Finding True Rest, Just in Case

What do you think of when you see that word?... Read More

Stress Causing People to ?Super Size?

... Read More

Managing Your Persistent Fears And Anxieties

Everybody deals with fear and anxiety, however some people have... Read More

What is Stress?

Stress is an interpretation of an event or circumstance which... Read More

Myth Busting: What Causes Mental Breakdown?

I came out of a nightmare 5-year period of anxiety... Read More

Stress Management: How to Handle Rejection - The Power of NEXT

Raise your hand if you have ever been rejected by... Read More

Squeeze To Relax!

This heading may seem like a contradiction in terms. How... Read More

Brain Diet : Right Diet prevents Memory Loss

These days, when people have become so conscious about what... Read More

Five Tips to De-stress Your Life

I recently received this e-mail message about stress management (author... Read More

An ADD Case Study: When the Pace Picks Up, Learn to Slow Down

The fall season signals a shift in most people's minds.... Read More

Dealing With Stress in Our Overworked Lives

As small business owners, we often take on more than... Read More

Simple Tips to Help Simplify Your Life! - Make it Great!

Quote of the week"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." Leonardo da... Read More

Stress Management: How to Change Limiting Beliefs

Mark Twain once said, "It's not what we don't know... Read More

Minimize Stress in Your Life

Use these simple tips to minimize stress in your day... Read More

How To Eliminate Or Manage Stress

Are you a "worry wart?" Is that term familiar to... Read More

Living on the Edge: Stressed Out and Nowhere to Go

Is your stress level higher than it should be? Are... Read More

Technology and Stress- How to Prevent Technology From Taking Over Your Life

1. 5-minute rule. How many times do we say, "This... Read More

Busy Fish: Tips for Changing Your Day from Chaos to Calm

Syndicated columnist Dale Dauten recently wrote, "One of life's great... Read More

The Benefits of Eating from a Jar of Honey

June is the month of the honey moon. Custom holds... Read More

How to Cope With Stress and Strain

Work related tensions, personal issues and abnormal lifestyles are the... Read More

Reduce Stress and Increase Energy with Your Point of View!

Defending your point of view can use up a lot... Read More

Managing Stress - Hire the Right People

Managing stress is not easy if you don't have the... Read More

Coping with Change: Develop Your Personal Strategy

Why do we resist change? As the saying goes, the... Read More

Quick Steps On Handling Stress

Looking for some quick stress relief?Edward W. Smith, motivational speaker,... Read More

Chewing On Mindfulness: Gum Is Your Secret

My grandmother, a feisty and athletic woman in her younger... Read More

Discover The Wisdom of Letting Go

When a great Zen Master returned to his country after... Read More

Dealing With Frustration

If you're like most people, you have your bouts of... Read More

Break Up Your Day And Become More Productive

Often, in today's fast paced world, we forget to take... Read More