Yvonnie Bailey- Davidson Dear Counsellor:
I have recently been promoted and I am feeling very stressed. I feel overwhelmed and exhausted and I have a difficult time coping. How can you help?
- Marian
Dear Marian:
Life is stressful and we have to accept this. When you are promoted, the stress is increased and you have to make adjustments during the transition. The new work climate and environment are new and so, one has to learn to cope with the stress at this level.
One needs to be able to delegate and supervise as well as to do technical work. Think of yourself as a doctor. Many doctors work 24 hours per day, seven days per week and carry a heavy workload, so you are not alone with work and stress.
View your promotion with an attitude of gratitude. Thank God for giving you this opportunity to make something of life. A new job allows you to meet new people who may be able to help you along life's journey. This door that is opened for you should be viewed as an opportunity for greatness.
As an individual, you should have a career path, goals and a plan as to how to achieve. Meeting new clients, new executives, new accountants and new chief executive officers can be a step up the corporate ladder. The sky is the limit and whatever you can conceive, you can achieve.
Think positively
Our thoughts control our behaviour and you must think positively and act positively.
Do you know this poem: 'Th of great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight but they, while their companions slept, went toiling upwards through the night.'
If you need a big salary and prestige, you have to be prepared to work very hard to achieve your goals. Nothing in life is easy, and you have to be prepared to sweat a lot. Many people think that there is an easy way out, but life is complex and there are many things we do not understand. Lean not on your own understanding, but let God lead the way.
Be prepared to be kind, generous, considerate and pleasant to everyone you meet. Customers, clients, admin-istrative staff all have their daily stresses and a pleasant smile costs little but values much.
Managing one's stress is important. Get a medical check-up to assess your state of health. Take your supplements - vitamins B and C, minerals, omega oil, garlic and ginger in their natural forms and detoxify your system using aloe vera.
Get as much sleep as you can and start doing exercise. Walk up and down stairs instead of taking the elevator. Do some walking in the morning or evening. Doing work in small amounts steadily will guarantee that the work will becompleted.
Ask for help
You need to think on your feet and brainstorm with others. People have good ideas and many hands make light work. Delegation, organisation, problem solving and decision making are all skills that you need to sharpen to manage your workload.
People skills are important to get a willing, competent workforce. And remember, be ready with the praise and slow with the criticism.
With God, all is possible, so ask your friends and family and church community to pray for you and intercede on your behalf. Eat a lot of fruit and vegetables and drink eight glasses of water per day.
Review your spirituality. Com-municate with God through constant prayer, worship and praise. When you do all these things, you will get the energy to be very productive.
When you have a heavy workload, you need to prioritise and organise. It is good to make a complete list of all that needs to be done.
Keep a file on all these activities. Each day/week, make an entry as to what has happened or been done lately and what needs to be done. In this way you will cover all areas, but will be working on a few activities at any one time.
Phone Yvonnie Bailey-Davidson at 978-8602 or 791-1778, or email yvonniebd@hotmail.com.
