Stress - The Devil Within by Martin Avis

Stress takes many forms in our business lives. Exactly

what it is very hard to define, but two statements seem

to me to sum up the main cause and effect:

o The fear that more is expected of you than you can

reasonably achieve.

o A feeling - real or imagined - that you are out of

control and cannot regain the right track.

Who gets it? Everyone is susceptible, no-one is immune.

However, some people deal with it more effectively.

Over the years I have studied many people who seem to

be able to thrive on stress - or have mastered the

knack of shucking off the effects - and have formulated

a ten-part plan to help others cope.

Why stress is so damaging?

o Health: long term stress can severely affect a

persons health. The immune system is damaged, the

nervous system is impaired and susceptibility to minor

(and sometimes major) illnesses increases.

o Emotions: when under relentless and unmanageable

stress, a persons self-worth is impaired. Relationships

suffer and positive planning becomes very difficult.

o Performance: of course, when under long-term stress

at work, the ability to function at peak levels

diminishes. How can we be expected to give 110% if our

minds and bodies are slowly shutting down through

endless misuse? Typically, a highly stressed person,

who is not managing it well, will subconsciously

develop behaviors that attempt to minimize exposure to

more stress:

o A fear to act - procrastination

o Fear of failure

o Avoidance of the issues

o Withdrawal from 'the cutting edge'

The result? You get sidelined and passed over for the

next person who deals with the pressures better.

Not all stress is bad. Some can be beneficial, but only

when kept in the right proportion.

Most people getting up to give a public presentation

feel a high degree of stress. Those who are not

paralyzes with fear often say that the pressure gave

their talk an edge. That the adrenaline pumping made

them sharp.

How many business people do you know who write

documents and presentations weeks in advance? Hardly

any, I bet. Most prefer to leave things until the last

minute to 'be at their sharpest.' And it is true that

when under the right amount of pressure, the mind tends

to clear and we see to the very heart of the problem.

People who manage stress best seem to be able to manage

the causes of stress, ensuring that too many situations

do not develop at once. Because however positive some

stresses may be, pile a whole lot of them up at the

same time and you still are heading for a nervous

breakdown.

Can it be beaten? Yes and no. Some stresses are in

built - nothing can remove them. They are a part of

each person's individual psyche. Some are a vital part

of life - try crossing a busy road without a care in

the world. Some things that wind us up like a spring

are not stressful to others - public speaking is a good

example.

But ... many stresses can be managed and others can be

minimized or removed.

One key factor in dealing with your own stresses is

effective self-management. Deal with your internal

issues before you look to change the world outside

yourself.

Here, then is my ten-part plan. Some of the elements

may seem trite - and on their own they may be - but

they all combine to give you a powerful, workable

strategy to begin to take back control of your life.

1. Get organized

However busy you may think you are, it is a sure bet

that there is a half hour or so every day that is being

wasted. Check out goal-setting techniques and time

management strategies. They really help - and will show

you how to get far more done in the same time than you

ever imagined possible.

Go to Page 2

BIO:

Martin Avis publishes a free weekly newsletter:
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