Stress is a natural part of life, and a little of it is a great motivating factor. It’s when it gets you to that “OMG WTF BBQ” breaking point that it’s time to bring in these de-stressing techniques.
1. Have some “Off-Limits Time.”
Set aside some time, about an hour, in which you don’t do ANYTHING constructive. Daydream, read for fun, play video games, whatever. You’re NOT doing any studying, work, favours for other people, etc. It’s your time. Defend it. Someone comes up to you and wants a piece of you, tell them you’ll deal with it as soon as you can (as, of course, you will).
Now, this might seem counterintuitive. After all, stress comes from deadlines and the pressure to work faster than ever. But this break isn’t cutting into precious work time as much as it is a reminder that it’s work that’s cutting into your life. If you don’t have time to just hang around and be happy, then what are you doing all that work for? What kind of life are you trying to support? Today, we’re on a 24/7 schedule. You can’t spend that 24/7 with your nose to the grindstone. Anyway, it’s just an hour. It won’t make or break you. In fact, it might make you more efficient when you do get back to working because you’re no longer in freakout mode.
Oh, and sleeping doesn’t count for the Off-Limits Time. You need to be conscious to appreciate the time off. However, placing that hour just before you go to sleep can help you get to sleep faster and wake up better rested. So there you go.
One more note about this idea: Even though Fan To Pro is about blurring the lines between work and leisure, there is still a difference between the fun part of your job and the part that makes you go "OMG WTF BBQ." It's when the latter gets to be a bit too pervasive that you need to break out of the simple life.*
2. Have a Meaningful Side Project
Here’s another case where intensifying your To-Do list actually makes the whole thing easier. Stress comes from not knowing what you’re doing, or knowing but having the sneaking suspicion that it’s pointless.
So allay your fears with a fun side project. Draw a comic, invent a new card game, learn a skill you’ve always wanted to but never made time for. Whatever you want, so long as it’s important to you and there’s progress. Nothing alleviates that banging-your-head-against-a-wall feeling like when you stop banging your head against the wall.**
And as an added bonus, once you’ve been at your side project for a while, you have something cool to show for it.
3. Call in the Troops
Stress can double and triple if you’re left to wallow in your anxieties alone. Don’t abandon your social plans. They’re your cushion, your safe haven, your peeps. And if your friends are the source of stress, then hang out with another group of friends – you know, the friends of yours who don’t associate with that person. Or get out there and meet some new people.***
The point is, the world can dish out some tough times. Don’t try to fight the fight alone.
* The simple life = Eat, Sleep, Be Geeky. Why, what else is there?
** Or helmets.
*** Which can turn into a great networking opportunity too.
- Tamara Hecht