Handling the pressure when there’s too much to do: two sure-fire tips.

Feeling pressured because there’s too much to do with too little time to get it all done? You might be interested in knowing that one of the best studies ever conducted on stress in the workplace was done in 2003 jointly by the New York Presbyterian Hospital and Bright Enterprises . That survey showed “having too much to do in too little time to get everything done” is the number one producer of stress!

Just knowing this finding might give you some temporary relief because you realize that you are not alone. But to really handle the day-to-day pressures, put into your regular routine the following two proven tips that are guaranteed to significantly reduce your stress levels:

Tip 1:  RE-EVALUATE AND RENEGOTIATE WORK DEMANDS

Take a look at your to-do list and decide what essential things need to get done that day, and what things could either be postponed until the next day or renegotiated. Be creative.  Perhaps you could negotiate doing only part of the assignment. Better yet, maybe you could identify a teammate who would be willing to help you out.

BEAR IN MIND: The list doesn't control you – you control the list. In the big picture, who do you know that’s been fired because they hadn’t completed everything on their to-do list in any given work day?  Also, consider this:  If we got everything on our lists consistently done each day, then, maybe it’s a sign that there’s not enough work on your plate and that could be a source of another kind of stress once discovered.

Tip 2:  BE REALISTIC ABOUT CONTROL -Challenge yourself to implement what a mentor once told me when my goal to be an entrepreneur had me constantly feeling overwhelmed.  He said, “Here’s a good way to assess whether or not you have had a good day…did you use every minute wisely?”  He continued by saying, “That’s definitely in your control.”

Keeping these two tips in mind will help to take the pressure off and allow for some fun in your day!