Making the choice to do something or not can be difficult, especially if you are in a state of stress.

So, how do I know what I can change in a stressful situation - what I have to deal with - and live through?

Let’s begin with some things you can do, even when the stress is not ongoing.

First, when you see that the programme is too full or is getting too full for your liking, try to, if you possibly can, put in time buffers.  Do it ahead of time.  Say you see that the next few weeks are full of ”heavy duty” activity, then do not plan something in the evenings, if possible – even if it is a fun activity and plan only fun activities (and one per day) at the weekend. This will help keep your brain and body from being on overdrive.

Learn to say no and feel good about it.

I am very serious about that.

Otherwise, maybe you can set your times at work differently so that you can block in creative times, times that you might have to be “on call”, busywork times (like email answering), and whatever else you need.

I have a client who tries to block one or two afternoons for creative time at work, so she actually leaves her office and changes to a place where other people cannot bother her. For me, I would choose one or two mornings (my biological clock is good from 8am-2pm for creativity, maximum 3pm). But the idea is the same. The same client is “on call” in the mornings till about 9:30, as that is the busiest time in her office.

Also, what about those awful parts of work?

There are always the good parts, the neutral parts and the awful parts.  How can you emphasize (or even “enlarge”) the good parts and how can you minimize (or get rid of some of) the bad parts?  This is very personal, but I will give you an example.  I dislike correcting my students’ exams, so I try to go it like taking medicine or getting a shot: as quickly and “cleanly” as possible. Sometimes this is not possible for logistical reasons, but I try to minimize my “pain” in this way.  Maybe you have boring administration to do. I totally understand that admin is boring for many people; it is for me.  So, perhaps that can be done when you cannot do the more enjoyable parts of your job, or when your energy level is lower and meeting with people or being creative is not very fruitful.  You have to do your job and do it well, but maybe you can arrange it differently.

Saying no is about knowing your and setting clear boundaries.  You have to know what you are capable of, capable of for a shorter time, and what you can handle in a sustainable way.

Some people can handle work hours over the legal limit.  But, in the end, doing this for a career is not sustainable and something will have to give at some time.  Either it will be relationships, health, both or something else.  something or not can be difficult, especially if you are in a state of stress.

So, how do I know what I can change in a stressful situation - what I have to deal with - and live through?

Let’s begin with some things you can do, even when the stress is not ongoing.

First, when you see that the programme is too full or is getting too full for your liking, try to, if you possibly can, put in time buffers.  Do it ahead of time.  Say you see that the next few weeks are full of ”heavy duty” activity, then do not plan something in the evenings, if possible – even if it is a fun activity and plan only fun activities (and one per day) at the weekend. This will help keep your brain and body from being on overdrive.

Learn to say no and feel good about it.

I am very serious about that.

Otherwise, maybe you can set your times at work differently so that you can block in creative times, times that you might have to be “on call”, busywork times (like email answering), and whatever else you need.

I have a client who tries to block one or two afternoons for creative time at work, so she actually leaves her office and changes to a place where other people cannot bother her. For me, I would choose one or two mornings (my biological clock is good from 8am-2pm for creativity, maximum 3pm). But the idea is the same. The same client is “on call” in the mornings till about 9:30, as that is the busiest time in her office.

Also, what about those awful parts of work?

There are always the good parts, the neutral parts and the awful parts.  How can you emphasize (or even “enlarge”) the good parts and how can you minimize (or get rid of some of) the bad parts?  This is very personal, but I will give you an example.  I dislike correcting my students’ exams, so I try to go it like taking medicine or getting a shot: as quickly and “cleanly” as possible. Sometimes this is not possible for logistical reasons, but I try to minimize my “pain” in this way.  Maybe you have boring administration to do. I totally understand that admin is boring for many people; it is for me.  So, perhaps that can be done when you cannot do the more enjoyable parts of your job, or when your energy level is lower and meeting with people or being creative is not very fruitful.  You have to do your job and do it well, but maybe you can arrange it differently.

Saying no is about knowing your and setting clear boundaries.  You have to know what you are capable of, capable of for a shorter time, and what you can handle in a sustainable way.

Some people can handle work hours over the legal limit.  But, in the end, doing this for a career is not sustainable and something will have to give at some time.  Either it will be relationships, health, both or something else. I have seen this happen.