10 Ideas About Worrying Wisely and Regaining Control

Mike is “burned out” and feels he is under stress a great deal of the time. His production is down and everywhere he looks he sees problems.

Mike’s response to this pressure is learned helplessness, withdrawal, and the I give-up”, and throw his hands up in the air. This quitting response seems to have followed his perception that he has no control over his situation. He blames “bad karma”, the “unfairness of life”, and all the things he can’t control inside and outside his company as his chief nemesis’.

All of our experiences are filtered through personal perception and our bias distorts them to fit our entrenched beliefs. So, much of our stress is not from the situation we face but rather our perception of it.

The feeling of having no control over your life or the events of the work day can be more stressful than true danger. In a recent experiment, race car drivers had their stress levels measured both while driving at 200 mph and when they were in the pit having the crew working on their cars. Which do you think was higher?

Related: What to Do When Sales Calls Stall

10 ideas about worrying wisely and regaining control:

  • Cope with things that are beyond your control (conditions).
  • Look to solve those situations that are in your control (problems).
  • Most of our stress is in response to trivial vs. what is really important.
  • Decide where responsibility belongs and then keep it there!
  • Choose your battles wisely.
  • Avoid being a dumping ground for the problems of others and their negativity. Help them find their own answers.
  • Quit trying to be a super-hero all the time. Ask for help when you need it.
  • Do not run your engine at a breakneck pace all the time.
  • Tackle the tough stuff. The best way to get over it is to get on with it!
  • Re-humanize yourself. Work is only a part of life vs. life itself.
  • Even a race car needs to get refueled and recharged before getting back on the track for the win. Sometimes you need to slow down before you can speed up again.