— Worried Already

One of the greatest sources of stress is time — or the lack there of — to successfully accomplish our many daily and weekly tasks. Think of time as a finite resource that all of us share equally: twenty-four–hours-a-day, seven-days-a -week, moving along at exactly the same speed, 365-days-a-year. We need to fit our activities and responsibilities into time's schedule. Thinking about life this way is enough to stress out even the most organized and even-tempered of us!

To combat the boundaries of that ever present ticking clock, know that time management equals self-management. Here are some self-management strategies to help you better utilize your time, and, thereby, reduce your stress levels:

1. Make prioritized lists of tasks you need to accomplish, and make them before you go to bed or just after you wake up.
2. Estimate the amount of time that you think each item on your list will take to complete, and then add 15 percent to accommodate for unplanned delays and interruptions.
3. Try to build "quiet hours" into your schedule, when you don't take phone calls and visitors.
4. Don't put off decisions because additional information MAY fall from the sky sometime in the future. This procrastination tactic rarely pays off.

If you already do not do so, you may think about incorporating exercise into your daily routine to help in the fight against stress. Not only will this allow for time to clear your head, you will feel better, as well. Another method to battle stress is by employing basic relaxation techniques, such as yoga, breathing exercises, and transcendental meditation.

If you are a Columbia student, Alice!, Columbia University's Health Promotion Program, offers workshops on Stress and Time Management. You can visit the Alice! website for more information. Also, Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) offers workshops and support groups to help students manage their work and "life" load. You can call x4-2878 or visit the CPS website for more information.

If you are not a student, you can see if your local YM/YWCA is offering any stress and time management courses. You may even consider talking with your primary care provider and perhaps getting a referral to see a therapist who specializes in stress management. You can also read Hans Selye's book, Stress Without Distress.

Alice

Related Q&As

Life management

Stress, anxiety, and learning to cope

Exercise motivation... for stress reduction

Procrastination