10 Golden Rules for Effective Stress Management

1.        Enjoy a healthy lifestyle – eat a balanced diet, cut down on smoking and do not drink to excess.

2.         Maintain a sensible weight and exercise, however modestly, at least twice a week.

3.         Have regular health checks, annually or biannually.

4.         Take advantage of your full holiday entitlement.

5.         Try to avoid taking work home.

6.        Manage your workload. Do not stay in the office too late too often.  Try to delegate or reorganize your workload.

7.         Do not crowd your brain.  Remember your brain can only handle one large or complex task at a time, with up to ten “in reserve” at the back of your mind.

8.         Try and talk your problem that is affecting your work with a senior colleague.  Accordingly, if one of your subordinates is under too much pressure, encourage him or her to discuss it with you.

9.         Do not let your family and friends become strangers.

10.       Understand the difference between “challenging” stress and “destructive”   

           stress.

 SHARED FROM:

Jeff Grout, (1994),"Executive Stress and How to Survive It", Executive Development, Vol. 7 Iss: 4 pp. 29 - 30

(Jeff Grout is the Managing Director of Robert Half, financial recruitment specialists, Walter House, 418 The Strand, London WC2R 0PT.)