Our ultimate freedom is the right and power to decide how anybody or anything outside ourselves will affect us (Stephen Covey)

Photo by Luis Villasmil on Unsplash

It seems counter-intuitive, but workload is the number one cause of stress at work.

Mostly this kind of stress has a positive vibration - at a moderate level, positive stress can make us more alert, stay motivated, and work towards goals.

For instance, I feel a positive stress to help my at-risk students improve their grades. This means working closely with several students, finding their motivation points, tracking data and having conversations with teachers to find appropriate strategies.

This kind of challenge/stress focuses our attention, talent and energy. 

Negative stress can happen when too much is expected and people get overwhelmed, or if the work piles up continually without time to reduce the pile.

It seems obvious - but too many tasks prevent people working well if there is no time for reflection.

I've found that the more conscientious a person is, the more they struggle to turn bad stress around into good stress and then end up unwell, not sleeping, making errors, and then potentially becoming below the line people (blaming others and coming up with excuses).

Reflection time is a must have. We all need it.

So, how can bad stress be turned back into good stress?

Some of these ideas may help:

• Acknowledging workload stress is a good start
• Consciously keep above the line thinking going (ownership, not blame)
• Manage the workload, don't control it. Prioritise (I don't use to do lists but some of my colleagues do - one even keeps a done list - whatever works for you)
• Take a meaningful pause (I aim to go for a walk three times a week to exercise and clear the head)
• Eat healthily (a piece of fruit each day helps)
• Decide if it's good stress or not
• Don't fight it - acceptance that the tasks will never stop coming is affirming with the right mindset
• Say no if you need to. Push back on deadlines (someone else's urgent/importance may not be yours)
• Manage your emails (touch them only once)
• Delegate tasks if you can (but beware loading up on others workload)
• Laugh a lot! It will keep you sane.
• Seek support - others may have already walked those steps or else have some good ideas.

Good luck as you navigate the path to good stress!