Ease Off

As we approach the holiday season, we need to make the most of the opportunity to ease off the hectic pace of the past year. With recession pressures forcing us to work harder to address organizational challenges, stress can overcome even the strongest managers. Our minds think of innumerable reasons why we have to keep reacting to change while maintaining the best of our existing environment.

Regardless of all good intentions and solids reasons for working hard, eventually our bodies rebel. We know the signs and too often talk ourselves into thinking the signs are temporary. Poor sleep leading to chronic tiredness. Short temper, or, perhaps worse, continuously suppressed anger and frustration. Coffee-fueled days that see fewer and fewer goals accomplished. Finally, illness - from never-ending colds to cancer and heart-failure. Stop!!

The cure is to ease off. Implementing the cure is very difficult. It starts with shedding things that don't matter very much. Then delegation and sharing is required, in which your subordinate or colleague really takes over responsibility. Force yourself to go home at a specific hour - just leave the work all over your desk when the hour comes; after a few weeks of this drastic step, you will learn to wind-down earlier. Finally, walk home, or play soccer with your kids, or join a dance class, or go skiing. Find an exercise that is fun and helps you gain relief from goals and deadlines. Fun takes much less time than the fall-out from stress.