CHAPTER ACTIVITIES

College Success = Career Success

MANAGING STRESS AT WORK

Managing stress at work is similar to managing stress in college. In fact, if you practice these strategies now, they’ll be easier to perform in a work environment.

Describe a situation that’s causing you stress. Then examine the chart below, which presents four ways to deal with a stressful situation. Two ways involve changing the situation, and two ways involve changing your reaction to the situation.

Read through each box and select “yes,” “no,” or “unsure” as you determine if this is a strategy you can use to deal with your stressful situation.

Change the situation Change your reaction to the situation
Strategy 1: Avoid the stress Strategy 2: Alter the stressor Strategy 3: Adapt to the stressor Strategy 4: Accept the stressor

Can you say “no”?

Yes No Unsure

Can you ask for help?

Yes No Unsure

Can you think more positively about the situation (find a silver lining)?

Yes No Unsure

Can you give yourself an incentive to complete the task?

Yes No Unsure

Can you alter your behavior to avoid the stress?

Yes No Unsure

Can you schedule your time differently to reduce the stress?

Yes No Unsure

Can you adjust your standards and not seek perfection?

Yes No Unsure

Can you accept that some things are beyond your control?

Yes No Unsure

Can you pare down your to-do list?

Yes No Unsure

Can you delegate some tasks to others?

Yes No Unsure

Can you recognize and reduce self-defeating thoughts you’re having (“should,” “must”)?

Yes No Unsure

Can you see how you would do things differently next time?

Yes No Unsure

Can you avoid or limit your time with the person causing the stress?

Yes No Unsure

Can you communicate your feelings and concerns to the person causing the stress?

Yes No Unsure

Can you understand the perspective of the person causing the stress?

Yes No Unsure

Can you let go of anger and resentment toward the person causing the stress, and move on?

Yes No Unsure

Question 12.14

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