Hindsight 20/20 or "that wasn't as bad as I thought it would be"
I find I am my own worst enemy, as sometimes I tend to allow myself to get anxious over a task/obstacle,etc before I actually start it. After the task is completed, I almost ALWAYS feel silly for having "built it up in my mind" so much ahead of time. So with new challenges, I try to remind myself that it isn't as bad as it seems, so just dig in and do it. It's often over before you know it, and wasn't such a big deal.
I'd have to say that I tend to a major violator of getting all worked up over different tasks that need to be completed - although that is the case regardless of whether I feel I give myself an appropriate amount of time to complete the task, or if I tend to procrastinate on it. It has gotten to the point where if it is known in advance when a deadline is due, my program director will let me know ahead of time, because she knows I get all worked up over the added responsibility, and I'll need all the extra time to get the task done. Granted, I haven't come to the point of "that wasn't as bad as I thought it would be".
The one area I tend to get worked up the most is when I have to complete self-evaluations. For most of my co-workers, this takes 15 minutes tops. For me, a few weeks. I generally can't look at the questions asked and see them as something that can not be answered relatively quickly. Now, most of my co-workers would tell me that "you're too hard on yourself", which may be true, but I can justify most of the "concerns" I usually end up putting on such evaluation forms.
John,
I completely agree. I tend to do the same thing. I am now looking at it like a bandage. Just get it over with and then you don't have to worry about the task waiting for you and things piling up.
Keep on plugging away.
Amy Richard
John, It's challenging to put things into perspective sometimes. I understand where you're coming from when it comes to having a false sense of urgency. Sometimes we are truly the ones causing our own stress and we need to reset our expectations of ourselves and others to feel better.
Dr. Melissa Read
Martin, Drawing from life experience can give us great perspective. You are right, often times stress is very much coming from within. Often it has to do with our expectations of ourselves and others. Sometimes it's best to reset those expectations.
Dr. Melissa Read
I definately find myself doing the same thing, however, my stress also stims from my procrastination. I've found that in writing out the "to-do" list and prioritizing with numbers, really helps to keep me on track.
My life experience has shown me that most of life's stresses are self-imposed with nonexsitent urgency.
