How I Decrease Stress and Increase Productivity

When I think of a few words to describe this past week at work, the following come to mind: brutal, hectic, exhausting, and stressful. Clearly this week wasn't my typical work week, but I noticed something different about myself as I was consistently submerged in "emergencies". My personality began to change when various situations and circumstances arose this week that required my immediate attention. I was impatient and on some levels, borderline attitudinal and uninterested! I honestly didn't feel like myself when I came home from work and didn't want to talk to anyone. For those who did communicate with me after work, I'd reduced them to electronic communication only (with the exception of my mother).Because I didn't like this "alternative Ericka", I made a conscious decision to not allow my job to dictate who I am and how I function. Effective immediately, the following rules have been implemented to ensure that I never see the impact of stress from a week like this again!

-Renew daily. I don't always know when to stop and take a break, especially if I feel as though pressing through will yield the results I am seeking. However, a wise man named Kenny Rogers once said, "You got to know when to hold '‹Å"em; know when to fold '‹Å"em; know when to walk away; know when to run." I have to make sure that I am renewed on a daily basis. I need to restore, replenish, and reestablish so that I am revived, which will ultimately enhance my performance.

-Refuse to conform. As I found myself adjusting to the demands of my work, I realized that I was adapting to my surroundings, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. The challenges arose when harmony no longer became an essential factor for everyone involved. Each person has a different perspective on how things should get done as well as the best way to get things done. In addition to these individual perspectives, there are individual personalities, which don't always mesh. I have to make sure that I am consistent as a performer which means that I am professional at all times, even when there are differences. I have to make sure that I don't let situations and circumstances dictate my behavior and negatively impact myself as well as those around me.

-Attempt to transform. The word transform when studying physics means to change into another form of energy. Instead of allowing the fast paced environment to change me, I could have been the employee who made a difference; the one presenting positive energy. I could have been the employee who changed the environment for the better, not the one who could have made things worse. In order for me to transform in stressful situations, I have to decrease the emotion and increase clear thinking to reach an effective decision. Being able to make effective decisions pertaining to the business is something that great leaders do consistently.

Now that this past week is behind me, I can focus on 3 key things that will have an impact on my professional life as well as my personal life. My choices to renew, conform, and transform will ensure that stress can show up, but that it can't consistently reside in my life.

More from this contributor:

5 Setbacks to Career Success

Is Your Negativity Isolating You at Work?

Electronic Communication in the Workplace