Anger, Stress, and Time Management

**Do you ever have any of these feelings?**
- Anger
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Exhaustion
- Stress

**Have you experienced any of these problems?**
- Headaches
- Backaches
- Muscular problems
- Sleeping problems
- Heartburn

**Types of Negative Stress**

*Acute Stress*
Occurs when an individual must respond instantaneously to a crisis situation.

*Chronic Stress*
Occurs when a distressful situation is prolonged with no rest or recuperation for the body. Chronic stress triggers the production of different biochemicals in the body.

**Physical Problems Caused by Stress**
1. High blood pressure
2. Cardiovascular disease
3. Migraine headaches
4. Ulcers
5. Elevated cholesterol
6. Weakening of the immune system
7. Shortness of breath
8. Dizziness
9. Chest pains
10. Back pains

**Chronic Stress Can Also Cause Emotional Problems Such As:**
- Depression
- Withdrawal
- Deep-seated anger
- Self-rejection
- Loss of self-esteem

**Factors Contributing to Workplace Stress**
- Role ambiguity
- Job insecurity
- Working conditions and relationships
- Dual-career families, single parenthood, and extended families

**Anger - Its Purpose and Resolution**

You have already learned that anger is prevalent in society. Administrative professionals may encounter anger or become angry on the job. Your role as an administrative professional is a complex one. You must have command of the very latest technology, be able to deal with all types of people (even the ones who are angry), and be able to satisfy your employer's need for efficiency and effectiveness in turning out paperwork.

**Resolution of Anger: Intervention Model**
1. **Recognize Your Emotions**
(If it is anger, recognize the anger)

2. **Evaluate**
(What is the situation? Are you being threatened with physical harm? If you are, deal with the threat. If there is no threat of physical harm, you know you are dealing with anger.)

3. **Intervene**
(Take action to control the anger.)

**Problem-Solving Approach**
- Recognize anger as a messenger
- Define the problem by discovering underlying emotions
- Solve the problem

**Administrative Professionals and Time Wasters**

**Time - A Resource**
- You never seem to have the time you need; yet you have all the time there is. Time is a resource you cannot buy, sell, rent, borrow, save, or manufacture. You cannot change it, convert it, or control it.

**Time Wasters**
- Chatter
- Disorganization
- Ineffective communication
- Procrastination

**Techniques for Managing Stress, Anger, and Time**

1. **Conduct Audits**
- Determine how often you are stressed and/or angry.
- Determine how much time you are spending in various activities each day.
- Determine positive steps you can take to decrease your stress and anger and to use your time more productively.
- Practice effective stress, anger, and time management techniques.

2. **Clarify Values**
- What are the highest priorities in life?
- Of these priorities, which are the most important?

3. **Set Priorities**
- You must be able to distinguish the most important items.
- Tasks that should be done first, for less important items, tasks that can wait until a later date.

4. **Prepare Daily To-Do Lists**
- Most important matters - A
- Less important items - B
- Remaining items - C

**Distinguish Between Achievement and Perfection**
- Perfectionism is defined as "a propensity for setting extremely high standards and being displeased with anything else." Some people believe they must do everything perfectly; certainly, they must achieve and perform well. However, no human being can be perfect.

**Additional Tips for Time Management**
- Use downtime effectively.
- Handle paperwork as few times as possible.
- Complete work correctly the first time.
- Organize your workstation.
- Practice speed-reading.
- Use good communication techniques.
- Transmit ideas in simple, clear terms.
- Define terms if necessary.
- Repeat what you think you heard, and ask for clarification if necessary.
- Be sensitive to the communicator's body language as well as to the words being spoken.
- Keep your mind open to new ideas.

**Maintaining Well-being**
- Maintain a proper diet.
- Set up an exercise program.
- Get the proper amount of sleep.
- Understand role relationships.
- Balance work and play.
- Relax and use positive self-talk.
- Walk away from stressful situations.
- Talk to a friend.
- Solve the problem by identifying and acting on the best alternative.
- Evaluate the situation with constant reflection and thoughtful decisions.