Work Stress

Stress in the workplace is common for many of us these days. As organizations strive to adapt to a changing economy, the level of work stress increases. Is job stress something we just have to live with now? Or is it something we can control? Isn't there an ideal job with no stress at all?

Yesterday at my local airport I had the privilege of meeting face to face a woman by the name of Carol Pilon. Carol is no ordinary person. Her profession is wing walking! Yep, that's right! She walks on the wings of an airplane in flight and actually stays there standing on the wing and doing tricks while the pilot pushes the airplane through an aerobatic routine including loops and inversions. This is no ordinary job and I would imagine it's the kind of job that would push job stress beyond any known limits for most of us. But not for Carol. Of course there is some stress involved. Yesterday she was training a new pilot for some upcoming airshows. Everything has to work just right for her routine to work and to ensure a safe completion so efforts have to be made to get it right. That goes with just about every human endeavor. So why am I telling you about Carol?

Well, if Carol can do the job she does and not experience the kind of job stress that pushes her personal stress level over the top, then why can't we? If the worst we have to deal with is some ornery co-worker, then what's the problem? At least our life is not on the line! I guess what I'm saying is this. It's often not the job that causes the job stress but how we relate to the job that causes the stress. If you watched Carol prepare for an airshow you would probably say there is a good level of stress there in the workplace. But it is stress that people like Carol can handle and even thrive upon. So what's the secret?

First and foremost, Carol loves what she does. If you are in a job that you hate, the chances are you will experience work stress. And I can just hear some of my readers saying right now "Well that's OK to say but what can I do about it? I can't just quit this job because I hate it. In these tough times, I might not find another!" And I totally understand. But if that is the case you still have choice. You do have the choice to explore other options and you also have the choice to adapt and find ways to make your job less stressful and more fun. If you choose the latter option, here are some tips that might help. And even if you love your job, these tips will work for you too… even for someone like Carol.

Tips on How to Manage Stress in the Workplace

1. Prepare for your day. Spend at least 10 minutes each morning for you to stretch, breathe, meditate, walk, sing, play, or whatever it is that you can find that shifts your energy and your mind from a "Damn! Another day!" to "OK day… here I am! Open and ready!"
   
2. Don't take it personally! When stuff comes up on the job and you find criticism and nasty comments floating around as often happens with workplace stress, just let it roll off. You can even visualize the yucky stuff that comes your way just washing right off your body as soon as it arrives.
   
3. Smile a lot! Find a good reason at least every half hour to show the happy face. It's hard to smile and feel stressed at the same time so for at least a few seconds here and there you will be stress free if you can do this one.
   
4. Breathe! Yes, the old faithful. A deep slow and full inhale followed by big exhale will work wonders to shift how you respond to what's going on around you. Every time you feel the tension building, take a breath break.
   
5. Keep open to the possibility of a major change. Other jobs are out there. Keep your eyes and ears open and don't stop dreaming about the job you really want and the one you would love. Hey… what about wing walking?

Oh... click here for a pic of Carol doing her thing.

STRESS and FEAR

Fear of something, no matter what it is, can be a source of stress. And it's often very different for each of us. For a teenage girl I worked with this week, it was fear of flying. For my wife, it's fear of supermarkets. How do we deal with these so called "little fears"?

It's been said that we shouldn't sweat the petty stuff, but that's easier said than done. There are various approaches ranging from "embracing the beast" to "turning and running".

This week I had the pleasure of leading an Introduction to Aviation Week for ten students from a nearby private high school. Flying is one of my passions and so it was a great chance for me to give back something I've gained from my 20 or so years of flying airplanes. On the first day I asked them why they had chosen this particular option as part of their Pro Vita (for life) program. The responses were varied and many talked about the adventure and excitement that went with taking to the air. For Victoria though it was very different. She said she was afraid of flying. Terrified, in fact. She talked about the physical reactions in her body every time she set foot on a plane to go anywhere. She had decided that by learning more about airplanes and even getting to fly one, could be one way she would overcome it.

On the first day we went flying. The weather was not the best and it was pretty bumpy aloft. Victoria let out a scream or two as the airplane bounced around. I began to wonder if this "self therapy" she had prescribed for herself might not work out. By the third day she was much more relaxed and was beginning to enjoy the experience. By the last day of the program she was ecstatic as she took the controls and actually flew the airplane herself. In her evaluation she wrote: "Taking this course has taught me not to be afraid anymore. Because I faced my fear and allowed myself to embrace the rawest form of flying I will probably experience, I am no longer worried!" Victoria had truly "embraced the beast and tamed it".

Lori really hates supermarkets and when in one for any length of time beyond a few minutes, she experiences stress related symptoms. She feels nauseous, light headed, and unstable on her legs. If she pushes through these symptoms, she then gets a headache and by the time she gets to the checkout she's often feeling like throwing up. For many years she's tried to overcome it by "just doing it anyway". As a small child from a large family, she went several times a week to the several different supermarkets with her mother for prolonged shopping experiences armed with coupons and lists. She hated it. She felt very small inside the big store and the array of stuff on the shelves was overwhelming. The fear of not getting the best bargain was ever present and the high powered fluorescent lights tended to make her feel sick in the stomach. Every time she left a store, she inwardly wished it might be the last time she'd ever have to go into one. On the other hand, I love supermarkets. I read labels and spend additional time seeking out new products to try. I enjoy looking for the bargains, chat with the guy at the seafood counter, talk to people I meet, and generally come away feeling pleased with the experience. So in our family it's a no-brainer. I do most of the grocery shopping each week and have done for years. One of the most loving things I can do for my wife is to reassure her that she doesn't have to step foot in a supermarket again if she doesn't want to. This "stay away from the damned tiger at all costs" strategy works just fine for her.

This weekend we changed the clocks forward one hour for the return to daylight saving time. I couldn't help but notice how I chose to "hug the tiger" on Saturday night. Before going to bed I made sure all the clocks were changed, remembering how in years past when waiting until the next day to change some of the clocks and forgetting to change others, I had managed to create some panic next day around us knowing what time it really was. For me, I find that when I notice the urge to procrastinate and then consciously choose not to, it makes for a less stressful time ahead.

In these examples I have outlined above there are three common elements. They are: Awareness, Choice, and Action. If you want to know more about these in more detail there is a chapter on each in my book Turn Stress Into Bliss. To shortcut though, you can ask yourself these questions: "What are the little fears (tigers) in my life?" "What are my choices with each?" "What action do I want to take?"

So what DO you do with your "tigers" in life? What works and what doesn't?

Please pass this blog on to others if you feel it might serve them. Cheers for now.