'At Christmas I no more desire a rose Than wish a snow in May's newfangled mirth; But like of each thing that in season grows.' > Shakespeare (1564 - 1616), Love's Labour Lost
Christmas - that time of over-indulgence, added anxiety and sheer stress. Bah, humbug!
Actually, I love Christmas. But the reality for so many people at work is that hidden beneath the surface of jollity and bonhomie is that it is potentially the most difficult time of year.
The four work stresses of Christmas.
1. Christmas has become a giant milestone in the year. This forces everyone into an artificial mindset that demands that everything be completed 'before the holiday.' As a result, the weeks before Christmas are an absolute nightmare for many people. People who are already overworked are forced to pull extra hours to get work completed. Yet often, a moments thought by those demanding the completion of jobs would show that nothing bad will happen if they are held over until early January.
If you are a 'holiday hurrier', spare a thought for what is truly urgent and what is simply being hurried because it is Christmas.
2. The social whirl. Just because it is Christmas, everybody has to get on. And on, and on. Festive parties seem to start as soon as the shops start displaying tinsel - and that can be as early as September where I live! If you are prone to suffer from stress - as so many of us are these days - endless eating and drinking in smokey atmospheres (even if you don't smoke yourself) is just going to make things worse. Not only are you lowering your bodies resistance, but you are also severely limiting your ability to keep on top of the heightened workload.
Don't be a killjoy, but equally, don't party yourself into the floor.
3. 'What-haven't-I-done-itis'. When I worked for advertising agencies, every Christmas was blighted by worries of what I may have forgotten, what I may have rushed and done wrong, what other people may have messed up and so on. It was only in my last couple of years that I cracked the problem. I made lists. Big lists. I wrote down everything that needed to be thought about from December 1st onwards. If I had a newspaper campaign running I would call every paper to double check the ad positions. And I would write down the answers. I became obsessive about detail. And it worked. On Christmas Eve I would make two copies of all my notes, leave one on my desk and take the other home, locked in my briefcase. Then, when the demon thought sprang up during Christmas lunch that I had forgotten something vital, I knew I had it covered - and had the evidence to prove it to myself.
Funnily enough, just knowing that it was there made me forget about it completely and enjoy my holiday.
The moral of the story is - don't plan for Christmas Eve, plan for the days you will be home worrying.
4. Photocopiers and backsides. It might sound like fun, especially after a few beers. Don't go there. That glass can splinter! And even if it doesn't, do you really want the evidence of a drunken moment to haunt your career for years? There is always someone who has had a few less drinks than you who thinks it's amusing to hang on to the evidence.
Have a laugh, but try not to lose all your inhibitions. A broken photocopier could be the least of your worries!
'Call a truce, then, to our labours let us feast with friends and neighbours, And be merry as the custom of our caste; For if "faint and forced the laughter," and if sadness follow after, We are richer by one mocking Christmas past.'
> Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936), author, poet. Christmas in India.
Christmas is a lovely time if worries about work don't poison it for you. Try to plan ahead and have yourself a very merry Christmas this year.
What do you do when your fears and anxieties overwhelms you during the work week? Well the first thing you need to do is to seek the services of a professional and/or counselor who can teach you how to manage your fears and give you the help that you need. Until you can meet with someone, what can you do in the meantime to cope with your fears?
The first step is to take a deep breathe and try to find something to do to get your mind off of the problem. A person could take a walk, listen to some music, read the newspaper, watch TV, play on the computer or do an activity that will give them a fresh perspective on things. This will distract you from your current problem. Most importantly, doing something will give you the self confidence that you can still function and that you can get through the rest of the day.
Another thing to remind yourself is that things change and events do not stay the same. For instance, you may feel overwhelmed in the mornings with your anxiety and feel that this is how you will feel the rest of the day. This isn't correct. No one can predict the future with 100 Percent accuracy. Even if the thing that you feared does happen there are circumstances and factors that you can't predict which can be used to your advantage. You never know when the help and answers you are looking for will come to you.
I was told by a counselor that your anxiety and worry decrease over time. Your anxieties may seem intense at the moment, but that won't be like that forever. Your worry will eventually decrease. I asked a professional why does the worry and anxiety decrease over time and she told me, "Because it just does".
In every anxiety related situation you experience, begin to learn what works, what doesn't work, and what you need to improve on in managing your fears and anxieties. For instance, you have a lot of anxiety and you decide to play on the computer to help you feel better. The next time you feel anxious you can remind yourself that you got through it the last time by playing on the computer. This will give you the confidence to manage your anxiety at the present time.
Don't forget to Pray and ask God for help. A person can only do so much. Asking God for help can give us additional resources to help manage our fears and anxieties. It is not always easy, however God is in control and he will help you if you ask him.
As a Layman, I realize it is not easy to deal with all of our fears. When your fears and anxieties have the best of you, seek help from a professional. The key is to be patient, take it slow, and not to give up. In time, you will be able to find those resources that will help you with your problems.
Both Martin Avis & Stanley Popovich are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Stanley Popovich has sinced written about articles on various topics from Recreation and Sports, Anxiety and Mens Health. Stan Popovich is the author of "A Layman's Guide to Managing Fear" an easy to read book that presents a overview of techniques that are effective in managing persistent fears and anxieties. For additional information go to:. Stanley Popovich's top article generates over 22200 views. to your Favourites.