Stress and Time Management: March 2017

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STRESS AND TIME MANAGEMENT
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CHAPTER - 7
STRESS AND TIME MANAGEMENT
Topics Covered
Stress Management
What Does Stress Do
How Can Stress Management Counseling Help
Coping with Stress
Stress Management Strategy (SMS)
How Can Avoid Stress
Stress Management Techniques
Proven Tips for Stress Relief
Healthy Thinking
Automatic Thoughts and Cognitive Distortions
You Are What You Think
Irrational Thoughts
Irrational Beliefs
Time Management
How to Manage Time
Tools for Time Management Counseling
Tips to Improve Time Management Skills
Life Benefits of Time Management
Stress and Time Management Myths
206 Stress and Time Management
STRESS MANAGEMENT
Stress is a natural part of the human experience. In fact, stress can provide motivation
and increase our performance. Psychological stress is known to suppress the immune
system, making us more susceptible to illness. Stress is also associated with
hypertension, heart disease, headaches, and cancer. Prolonged stress can also trigger
depression, anxiety, and other psychological symptoms. It may seem that there’s
nothing you can do about stress. The bills won’t stop coming, there will never be
more hours in the day, and your career and family responsibilities will always be
demanding. But you have more control than you might think. In fact, the simple
realization that you’re in control of your life is the foundation of stress management.
Managing stress is all about taking charge - of your thoughts, emotions, schedule, and
the way you deal with problems.
Stress is an internal reaction to events and circumstances that challenge us to make
changes in our lives. There are both external and internal causes of stress.
External Causes Internal Causes
 Getting diagnosed with a serious  Physical changes that occur in the
illness body-
 Moving - Illness
 Failing a test - Injury
 Having a baby - Being in poor physical shape
 Sleeping through the alarm clock  Worrying excessively
 Losing a job  Thinking negatively
 Being in an automobile accident  Decision-making
 Being late for class  Setting unrealistic expectations for
 Having a fight with your ourselves/others
boyfriend/girlfriend
Stress is the result of our need to adapt to change. The sources of change, stressors,
can come from one of four basic areas -
 Environmental Stressors - examples include noise, pollution, traffic and crowding,
and the weather.
 Physiological Stressors - examples include illness, menopause, injuries, hormonal
fluctuations, and inadequate sleep or nutrition.
 Cognitive Stressors/ Your Thoughts - the way you think affects how you respond.
Negative self-talk, catastrophizing, and perfectionism all contribute to increased
stress.
Essentials of Counseling 207
 Social Stressors - examples include financial problems, work demands, family

demands, social events, job interviews, examinations, and losing a loved one.
What Does Stress Do

When we are stressed, our body responds in certain way called the ‘Stress Response’.
The stress response includes the following bodily reactions -
 Muscle tension  Increase in blood pressure
 Increase in heart rate  Cold and/or clammy hands and feet
 Sweating  Queasy stomach
 Rapid and shallow breathing  Feeling fidgety.
When we experience a number of internal and/or external stressors over a period of
time (i.e., weeks, months, years), there is a negative impact on us physically,
psychologically, and emotionally. As a result, people frequently turn to ineffective
and, usually, self-destructive behaviors to try to cope. Some symptoms only impact
the person who is directly experiencing stress, while other symptoms may have an
impact on our relationships with others. Fortunately, there are numerous healthy
strategies and techniques available to cope with stress effectively.
Symptoms of Stress
Emotional - Psychological - Behavioral - Physical -
 Anxiety  Decrease in  Mood swings  Fatigue
 Fear concentration  Blaming/  Headaches
 Nervousness  Loss of sense defensiveness  Backaches
 Tiredness of humor  Nervous habits  Muscle tension
 Anger  Low self (nail biting, finger (common in neck
 Frustration esteem or foot tapping) and shoulders)
 Irritability  Confusion  Change in appetite  Heart palpitations
 Impatience  Forgetfulness  Aggressive or  High blood
 Unhappiness  Unwanted or subdued behavior pressure
 Crying repetitive  Increase in alcohol  Indigestion
 Worry thoughts consumption  Ulcers
 Depression  Lack of  Increase in  Difficulty
motivation smoking sleeping
 Loss of libido  Low immunity to
colds etc.
Exposure to stress over prolonged periods can lead to a number of health problems. It
is important to become aware of when we are feeling stressed, to recognize the
symptoms and then learn to recognize the ‘triggers’ of our stress. Increasing our
awareness of our symptoms and triggers enables us to develop the skills to deal with
stress in our lives and implement changes that will enable us to move through
stressful situations with a sense of calmness and control.
Stress is what you feel when you have to handle more than you are used to. When you
are stressed, your body responds as though you are in danger. It makes hormones that
speed up your heart, make you breathe faster, and give you a burst of energy. This is
called the fight-or-flight stress response. Some stress is normal and even useful. Stress
can help if you need to work hard or react quickly. For example, it can help you win a
race or finish an important job on time. But if stress happens too often or lasts too
long, it can have bad effects. It can be linked to headaches, an upset stomach, back
pain, and trouble sleeping. It can weaken your immune system, making it harder to
fight off disease. If you already have a health problem, stress may make it worse. It
can make you moody, tense, or depressed. Your relationships may suffer, and you
may not do well at work or school.
How Can Stress Management Counseling Help

 It gives you the opportunity to explore the underlying causes of your stress and
anxiety.
 It helps examines your thoughts, feelings and behaviors that contribute to stress.
 You can gain self-understanding and insight, including identifying stress triggers.
 It offers tailor-made coping strategies to manage stressful situations.
 It improves your ability to handle pressures and your reactions to them.
 You can learn techniques and tools that are effective for you for the long-run.
What Can You Do About Stress?
The good news is that you can learn ways to manage stress. To get stress under
control -
 Find out what is causing stress in your life.
 Look for ways to reduce the amount of stress in your life.
 Learn healthy ways to relieve stress or reduce its harmful effects.
How Do You Measure Your Stress Level?

Sometimes it is clear where stress is coming from. You can count on stress during a
major life change such as the death of a loved one, getting married, or having a baby.
But other times it may not be so clear why you feel stressed. It’s important to figure
out what causes stress for you. Everyone feels and responds to stress differently.
Keeping a stress journal may help. Get a notebook, and write down when something
makes you feel stressed. Then write how you reacted and what you did to deal with
the stress. Keeping a stress journal can help you find out what is causing your stress
and how much stress you feel. Then you can take steps to reduce the stress or handle
it better.
Coping with Stress

Unhealthy Ways of Coping with Stress
These coping strategies may temporarily reduce stress, but they cause more damage in
the long run -
 Smoking  Using pills or drugs to relax
 Consuming too much alcohol  Sleeping too much
 Over-eating or under-eating  Procrastinating
 Zoning out for hours in front of the  Filling up every minute of the day to
TV or computer avoid facing problems
 Withdrawing from friends, family,  Taking out your stress on others
and activities (lashing out, angry outbursts, physical
 Acting out behavior (including violence)
physical aggression)  Quitting jobs, relationships, etc.
 Excessive worrying  Denying that a problem exists.
Learning Healthier Ways to Manage Stress
If your methods of coping with stress aren’t contributing to your greater
emotional and physical health, it’s time to find healthier ones. There are many
healthy ways to manage and cope with stress, but they all require change. You can
either change the situation or change your reaction. When deciding which option to
choose, it’s helpful to think of the four As - avoid, alter, adapt, or accept. Since
everyone has a unique response to stress, there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution to
managing it. No single method works for everyone or in every situation, so
experiment with different techniques and strategies. Focus on what makes you feel
calm and in control.
Dealing with Stressful Situations: The Four A’s
Change the situation Change your reaction
 Avoid the stressor.  Adapt to the stressor.
 Alter the stressor.  Accept the stressor.
Stress Management Strategy (SMS)

SMS # 1 Avoid Unnecessary Stress: Not all stress can be avoided, and it’s not healthy
to avoid a situation that needs to be addressed. You may be surprised, however, by the
number of stressors in your life that you can eliminate.
 Learn how to say ‘no’ - Know your limits and stick to them. Whether in your
personal or professional life, refuse to accept added responsibilities when you’re
close to reaching them. Taking on more than you can handle is a surefire recipe
for stress.
 Avoid people who stress you out - If someone consistently causes stress in your
life and you can’t turn the relationship around, limit the amount of time you spend
with that person or end the relationship entirely.
 Take control of your environment - If the evening news makes you anxious,
turn the TV off. If traffic’s got you tense, take a longer but less-traveled
route. If going to the market is an unpleasant chore, do your grocery shopping
online.
 Avoid hot-button topics - If you get upset over religion or politics, cross them off
your conversation list. If you repeatedly argue about the same subject with the
same people, stop bringing it up or excuse yourself when it’s the topic of
discussion.
 Pare down your to-do list - Analyze your schedule, responsibilities, and daily
tasks. If you’ve got too much on your plate, distinguish between the ‘shoulds’ and
the ‘musts’. Drop tasks that aren’t truly necessary to the bottom of the list or
eliminate them entirely.
SMS # 2 Alter the Situation: If you can’t avoid a stressful situation, try to alter it.
Figure out what you can do to change things so the problem doesn’t present itself in
the future. Often, this involves changing the way you communicate and operate in
your daily life.
 Express your feelings instead of bottling them up. If something or someone is
bothering you, communicate your concerns in an open and respectful way. If you
don’t voice your feelings, resentment will build and the situation will likely
remain the same.
 Be willing to compromise. When you ask someone to change their behavior, be
willing to do the same. If you both are willing to bend at least a little, you’ll have
a good chance of finding a happy middle ground.
 Be more assertive. Don’t take a backseat in your own life. Deal with problems
head on, doing your best to anticipate and prevent them. If you’ve got an exam to
study for and your chatty roommate just got home, say up front that you only have
five minutes to talk.
 Manage your time better. Poor time management can cause a lot of stress. When
you’re stretched too thin and running behind, it’s hard to stay calm and focused.
But if you plan ahead and make sure you don’t overextend yourself, you can alter
the amount of stress you’re under.
SMS # 3 Adapt to the Stressor: If you can’t change the stressor, change yourself. You
can adapt to stressful situations and regain your sense of control by changing your
expectations and attitude.
 Reframe problems. Try to view stressful situations from a more positive
perspective. Rather than fuming about a traffic jam, look at it as an opportunity to

pause and regroup, listen to your favorite radio station, or enjoy some alone time.
 Look at the big picture. Take perspective of the stressful situation. Ask yourself
how important it will be in the long run. Will it matter in a month? A year? Is it
really worth getting upset over? If the answer is no, focus your time and energy
elsewhere.
 Adjust your standards. Perfectionism is a major source of avoidable stress. Stop
setting yourself up for failure by demanding perfection. Set reasonable standards

for yourself and others, and learn to be okay with ‘good enough’.
 Focus on the positive. When stress is getting you down, take a moment to reflect
on all the things you appreciate in your life, including your own positive qualities
and gifts. This simple strategy can help you keep things in perspective.
 Adjusting your attitude. How you think can have a profound effect on your
emotional and physical well-being. Each time you think a negative thought about
yourself, your body reacts as if it were in the throes of a tension-filled situation. If
you see good things about yourself, you are more likely to feel good; the reverse
is also true. Eliminate words such as ‘always’, ‘never’, ‘should’, and ‘must’.
These are telltale marks of self-defeating thoughts.
SMS # 4 Accept the Things You Can’t Change: Some sources of stress are
unavoidable. You can’t prevent or change stressors such as the death of a loved one, a
serious illness, or a national recession. In such cases, the best way to cope with stress
is to accept things as they are. Acceptance may be difficult, but in the long run, it’s
easier than railing against a situation you can’t change.
 Don’t try to control the uncontrollable. Many things in life are beyond our control
- particularly the behavior of other people. Rather than stressing out over them,
focus on the things you can control such as the way you choose to react to
problems.
 Look for the upside. As the saying goes, “What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger”.
When facing major challenges, try to look at them as opportunities for personal
growth. If your own poor choices contributed to a stressful situation, reflect on
them and learn from your mistakes.
 Share your feelings. Talk to a trusted friend or make an appointment with a
therapist. Expressing what you’re going through can be very cathartic, even if
there’s nothing you can do to alter the stressful situation.
 Learn to forgive. Accept the fact that we live in an imperfect world and that
people make mistakes. Let go of anger and resentments. Free yourself from
negative energy by forgiving and moving on.
SMS # 5 Make Time for Fun and Relaxation: Beyond a take-charge approach and a
positive attitude, you can reduce stress in your life by nurturing yourself. If you
regularly make time for fun and relaxation, you’ll be in a better place to handle life’s
stressors when they inevitably come. Don’t get so caught up in the hustle and bustle
of life that you forget to take care of your own needs. Nurturing yourself is a
necessity, not a luxury.
Healthy ways to relax and recharge -
 Go for a walk.  Savor a warm cup of coffee or tea.
 Spend time in nature.  Play with a pet.
 Call a good friend.  Work in your garden.
 Sweat out tension with a good workout.  Get a massage.
 Write in your journal.  Curl up with a good book.
 Take a long bath.  Listen to music.
 Light scented candles.  Watch a comedy.
 Set aside relaxation time. Include rest and relaxation in your daily schedule. Don’t
allow other obligations to encroach. This is your time to take a break from all
responsibilities and recharge your batteries.
 Connect with others. Spend time with positive people who enhance your life. A
strong support system will buffer you from the negative effects of stress.
 Do something you enjoy every day. Make time for leisure activities that bring you
joy, whether it be stargazing, playing the piano, or working on your bike.
 Keep your sense of humor. This includes the ability to laugh at yourself. The act
of laughing helps your body fight stress in a number of ways.
SMS # 6 Adopt a Healthy Lifestyle: You can increase your resistance to stress by
strengthening your physical health.
 Exercise regularly. Physical activity plays a key role in reducing and preventing
the effects of stress. Make time for at least 30 minutes of exercise, three times per
week. Nothing beats aerobic exercise for releasing pent-up stress and tension.
 Eat a healthy diet. Well-nourished bodies are better prepared to cope with stress,
so be mindful of what you eat. Start your day right with breakfast, and keep your
energy up and your mind clear with balanced, nutritious meals throughout the day.
 Reduce caffeine and sugar. The temporary ‘highs’ caffeine and sugar provide
often end in with a crash in mood and energy. By reducing the amount of coffee,
soft drinks, chocolate, and sugar snacks in your diet, you’ll feel more relaxed and
you’ll sleep better.
 Avoid alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs. Self-medicating with alcohol or drugs may
provide an easy escape from stress, but the relief is only temporary. Don’t avoid
or mask the issue at hand; deal with problems head on and with a clear mind.
 Get enough sleep. Adequate sleep fuels your mind, as well as your body. Feeling
tired will increase your stress because it may cause you to think irrationally.
Because each person is unique, some of these stress management strategies will be
more helpful for you than others, and some will be new skills that require practice to
be effective. Think about learning to ride a bicycle. There was a time when this was a
new skill and felt very unnatural and awkward. You probably needed help at first.
With some coaching and practice, stress management, like cycling or any other skill,
becomes easier and more effective.
How Can Avoid Stress

Stress is a fact of life for most people. You may not be able to get rid of stress, but
you can look for ways to lower it. You might try some of these ideas -
 Learn better ways to manage your time. You may get more done with less stress if
you make a schedule. Think about which things are most important, and do those
first.
 Find better ways to cope. Look at how you have been dealing with stress. Be
honest about what works and what does not. Think about other things that might
work better.
 Take good care of yourself. Get plenty of rest. Eat well. Don’t smoke. Limit how
much alcohol you drink.
 Try out new ways of thinking. When you find yourself starting to worry, try to
stop the thoughts. Work on letting go of things you cannot change. Learn to say
“No”.
 Speak up. Not being able to talk about your needs and concerns creates stress and
can make negative feelings worse. Assertive communication can help you express
how you feel in a thoughtful, tactful way.
 Ask for help. People who have a strong network of family and friends manage
stress better.
 Sometimes stress is just too much to handle alone. Talking to a friend or family
member may help, but you may also want to see a counselor.
How Can You Relieve Stress?
You will feel better if you can find ways to get stress out of your system. The best
ways to relieve stress are different for each person. Try some of these ideas to see
which ones work for you -
 Exercise. Regular exercise is one of the best ways to manage stress. Walking is a
great way to get started.

 Write. It can help to write about the things that are bothering you.
 Let your feelings out. Talk, laugh, cry, and express anger when you need to with
someone you trust.

 Do something you enjoy. A hobby can help you relax. Volunteer work or work
that helps others can be a great stress reliever.

 Learn ways to relax your body. This can include breathing exercises, muscle
relaxation exercises, massage, aromatherapy, yoga, or relaxing exercises.

 Focus on the present. Try meditation, imagery exercises, or self-hypnosis. Listen
to relaxing music. Try to look for the humor in life. Laughter really can be the
best medicine.
Stress Management Techniques

 Organize Yourself. Take better control of the way you’re spending your time and
energy so you can handle stress more effectively.
 Control Your Environment by controlling who and what is surrounding you. In
this way, you can either get rid of stress or get support for yourself.
 Love Yourself by giving yourself positive feedback. Remember, you are a unique
individual who is doing the best you can.
 Reward Yourself by planning leisure activities into your life. It really helps to
have something to look forward to.
 Exercise Your Body since your health and productivity depend upon your body’s
ability to bring oxygen and food to its cells. Therefore, exercise your heart and
lungs regularly, a minimum of three days per week for 15-30 minutes. This
includes such activities as walking, jogging, cycling, swimming, aerobics, etc.
 Relax Yourself by taking your mind off your stress and concentrating on
breathing and positive thoughts. Dreaming counts, along with meditation,
progressive relaxation, exercise, listening to relaxing music, communicating with
friends and loved ones, etc.
 Rest Yourself as regularly as possible. Sleep 6-7 hours a night. Take study breaks.
There is only so much your mind can absorb at one time. It needs time to process
and integrate information. A general rule of thumb - take a ten minute break every
hour. Rest your eyes as well as your mind.
 Be Aware of Yourself. Be aware of distress signals such as insomnia, headaches,
anxiety, upset stomach, lack of concentration, colds/flu, excessive tiredness, etc.
Remember, these can be signs of potentially more serious disorders (i.e., ulcers,
hypertension, heart disease).
 Feed Yourself/ Do Not Poison Your Body. Eat a balanced diet. Avoid high calorie
foods that are high in fats and sugar. Don’t depend on drugs and/or alcohol.
Caffeine will keep you awake, but it also makes it harder for some to concentrate.
Remember, a twenty minute walk has been proven to be a better tranquilizer than
some prescription drugs.
 Enjoy Yourself. It has been shown that happier people tend to live longer, have
less physical problems, and are more productive. Look for the humor in life when
things don’t make sense. Remember, you are very special and deserve only the
best treatment from yourself.
Proven Tips for Stress Relief
1. Have an optimistic view of the world. Believe that most people are doing the best
they can.
2. Get up fifteen minutes earlier in the morning. The inevitable morning mishaps
will be less stressful.
3. Prepare for the morning the evening before. Set the breakfast table, make lunches,
put out the clothes you plan to wear, etc.
4. Don’t rely on your memory. Write down appointment times, when to pick up the
laundry, when library books are due, etc.
5. Do nothing which, after being done, leads you to tell a lie.
6. Make duplicates of all keys. Bury a house key in a secret spot in the garden and
carry a duplicate car key in your wallet, apart from your key ring.
7. Practice preventive maintenance. Your car, appliances, home, and relationships

will be less likely to break down/fall apart ‘at the worst possible moment’.
8. Be prepared to wait. A paperback can make a wait in a post office line almost
pleasant.
9. Procrastination is stressful. Whatever you want to do tomorrow, do today;
whatever you want to do today, do it now.
10. Plan ahead. Don’t let the gas tank get below one-quarter full; keep a well-stocked
‘emergency shelf’ of home staples; don’t wait until you’re down to your last bus
token or postage stamp to buy more; etc.
11. Don’t put up with something that doesn’t work right. If your alarm clock, wallet,
shoe laces, windshield wipers - whatever - are a constant aggravation, get them
fixed or get new ones.
12. Allow 15 minutes of extra time to get to appointments. Plan to arrive at an airport
one hour before domestic departures.
13. Eliminate (or restrict) the amount of caffeine in your diet.
14. Always set up contingency plans, ‘just in case’. (“If for some reason either of us is
delayed, here’s what we’ll do. . .” kind of thing. Or, “If we get split up in the
shopping center, here’s where we’ll meet”.)
15. Relax your standards. The world will not end if the grass doesn’t get mowed this
weekend.
16. Pollyanna-Power. For every one thing that goes wrong, there are probably 10 or
50 or 100 blessings.
17. Ask questions. Taking a few moments to repeat back directions, what someone
expects of you, etc., can save hours. (The old ‘the hurrieder I go, the behinder I
get’, idea.)
18. Say ‘No’. Saying ‘no’ to extra projects, social activities, and invitations you
know you don’t have the time or energy for takes practice, self-respect, and a
belief that everyone, everyday, needs quiet time to relax and be alone.
19. Unplug your phone. Want to take a long bath, meditate, sleep, or read without
interruption. Drum up the courage to temporarily disconnect. Or use an answering
machine.
20. Turn ‘needs’ into preferences. Our basic physical needs translate into food, water,
and keeping warm. Everything else is a preference. Don’t get attached to
preferences.
21. Simplify, simplify, simplify…
22. Make friends with non-worriers. Nothing can get you into the habit of worrying
faster than associating with chronic worrywarts.
23. Get up and stretch periodically if your job requires that you sit for extended
periods.
24. Wear earplugs. If you need to find quiet at home, pop in some earplugs.
25. Get enough sleep. If necessary, use an alarm clock to remind you to go to bed.
26. Create order out of chaos. Organize your home and workspace so that you always
know exactly where things are. Put things away where they belong and you won’t
have to go through the stress of losing things.
27. When feeling stressed, most people tend to breathe short, shallow breaths. When
you breathe like this, stale air is not expelled, oxidation of the tissues is
incomplete, and muscle tension frequently results. Check your breathing
throughout the day, and before, during, and after high-pressure situations. If you
find your stomach muscles knotted and your breathing is shallow, relax all your
muscles and take several deep, slow breaths.
28. Writing your thoughts and feelings down (in a journal, or on paper to be thrown
away) can help you clarify things and can give you a renewed perspective.
29. Try the following yoga technique whenever you feel the need to relax. Inhale
deeply through your nose to the count of eight. Then, with lips puckered, exhale
very slowly through your mouth to the count of 16, or for as long as you can.
Concentrate on the long sighing sound and feel the tension dissolve. Repeat 10
times.
30. Inoculate yourself against a feared event. Example - before speaking in public,
take time to go over every part of the experience in your mind. Imagine what
you’ll wear, what the audience will look like, how you will present your talk, what
the questions will be and how you will answer them, etc. Visualize the experience
the way you would have it be. You’ll likely find that when the time comes to
make the actual presentation, it will be ‘old hat’ and much of your anxiety will
have fled.
31. When the stress of having to get a job done gets in the way of getting the job
done, diversion - a voluntary change in activity and/or environment - may be just
what you need.
32. Talk it out. Discussing your problems with a trusted friend can help clear your
mind of confusion so you can concentrate on problem solving.
33. One of the most obvious ways to avoid unnecessary stress is to select an
environment (work, home, leisure) which is in line with your personal needs and
desires. If you hate desk jobs, don’t accept a job which requires that you sit at a
desk all day. If you hate to talk politics, don’t associate with people who love to
talk politics, etc.
34. Learn to live one day at a time.

35. Every day, do something you really enjoy.
36. Add an ounce of love to everything you do.
37. Take a hot bath or shower (or a cool one in summertime) to relieve tension.
38. Do something for somebody else.
39. Focus on understanding rather than on being understood; on loving rather than on
being loved.
40. Do something that will improve your appearance. Looking better can help you
feel better.
41. Schedule a realistic day. Avoid the tendency to schedule back-to-back
appointments; allow time between appointments for a breathing spell.
42. Become more flexible. Some things are worth not doing perfectly and some issues
are fine to compromise upon.
43. Eliminate destructive self-talk - “I’m too old to. . .”, “I’m too fat to. . .”, etc.
44. Use your weekend time for a change of pace. If your work week is slow and
patterned, make sure there is action and time for spontaneity built into your
weekends. If your work week is fast-paced and full of people and deadlines, seek
peace and solitude during your days off. Feel as if you aren’t accomplishing
anything at work? Tackle a job on the weekend which you can finish to your
satisfaction.
45. Take care of the todays as best you can and the yesterdays and the tomorrows will
take care of themselves.
46. Do one thing at a time. When you are with someone, be with that person and with
no one or nothing else. When you are busy with a project, concentrate on doing
that project and forget about everything else you have to do.
47. Allow yourself time - everyday - for privacy, quiet, and introspection.
48. If an especially unpleasant task faces you, do it early in the day and get it over
with, then the rest of your day will be free of anxiety.
49. Learn to delegate responsibility to capable others.
50. Don’t forget to take a lunch break. Try to get away from your desk or work area in
body and mind, even if it’s just for 15 or 20 minutes.
51. Forget about counting to 10. Count to 1,000 before doing something or saying
anything that could make matters worse.
52. Have a forgiving view of events and people. Accept the fact that we live in an
imperfect world.
HEALTHY THINKING
For more information on challenging your thoughts, see -
1. Learning about Automatic Thoughts and Cognitive Distortions
2. You Are What You Think
3. Common Irrational Thoughts
4. Handling Irrational Beliefs.
Automatic Thoughts and Cognitive Distortions
Automatic thoughts are just what the name implies. They are the thoughts that occur
constantly as our minds seek to narrate what is going on around us. The limbic system
is the area of the brain that controls our immediate response to situations, and this is
where our automatic thoughts are born. It assesses what is going on quickly and
makes a snap judgment based on the information at hand. In other situations, though,
it would be better for us to slow down and wait for more information and not react to
situations based on our limbic system’s messages alone. If left unchecked, automatic
thoughts may lead to emotional wellness concerns like anxiety, depression, stress and
sleep difficulty. Everything we think is an automatic thought. A problem arises when
our automatic thoughts manifest as cognitive distortions. Cognitive distortions are
automatic thoughts that are based on deeply ingrained core beliefs, and they are
irrational reactions we habitually have to situations. We often don’t even know that
we see the world in terms of these cognitive distortions. Just as the name implies, they
are based on faulty reasoning. There are several types of common cognitive
distortions.
Overgeneralization: As we go through life, we learn from our experiences. It is a
natural process of trial and error. Problems arise when we lump all similar
experiences together and decide that all experiences of a certain nature will always
turn out the same way. See the uses of the words ‘all’ and ‘always’ in that last
sentence. That’s a hint at overgeneralization.
If Jane got dumped by her first boyfriend and decided from then on that she is destined to always get
dumped, she’d be making an overgeneralization. This thinking doesn’t take into account the different
factors that affect every situation, though. Instead of assessing why she got dumped by her first
boyfriend and learning from the actual experience as it happened, she simply decided to learn a general
lesson about the nature of relationships. This can obviously lead to trouble. As she goes through
relationships later in life operating under this assumption, she’ll be much more likely to act in ways
that will fulfill her fears. She won’t be able to open up and communicate in her relationships because
she won’t be comfortable. This will lead to more experiences of getting dumped, and if she continues
to overgeneralize, this will just reinforce the assumption. It will also prevent her from learning about
the subtle intricacies of her experiences.
Labeling: Labeling is similar to overgeneralization. It can take the form of making

sweeping overgeneralizations about a group of people based on the actions of only a
few of them. It can also manifest as self-labeling. Self-labeling can have extremely
negative effects.
If a person gets a bad grade on a math test and automatically says, “I’m a bad math student”, they
won’t take the steps necessary to improve their math skills. “Bad math student” is a label that they’ve
applied to themselves, and it most likely is not true. With further study, this person would be able to
figure out what they did wrong and how to do it right. Instead, by labeling themselves as a “bad math
student”, they don’t have to take responsibility for doing the work to learn about math. These labels are
self-defeating, and they often lead us to create the very situation that is causing us problems.
Mind Reading: Often we assume that we know what people are thinking about us,
even if their actions are neutral or indicate the contrary. This is referred to as mind
reading.
Everybody knows that we can’t really read minds. If we’re having a conversation with somebody and
they correct us about something, we are likely to automatically think, “Oh, no, they think I’m an idiot!”
This is probably not true; we are much more critical of ourselves than others are of us. In fact, they
probably didn’t even think anything at all about our mistake. Yet we will let what we assume they
think about us affect our behavior for the rest of our conversation with that person, and this might make
for some negative outcomes if we hadn’t assumed that they thought the worst of us.
Fortune Telling: When we assume that we know what will happen in the future,
we’re fortune telling.
Hasan is looking for a job. Every time he sits down to send out resumes, he thinks, “There’s no way
I’m even going to get considered for these jobs”. He sends out the resumes anyway, but never follows
up with a phone call or tries to set up any interviews. Because he’s automatically assumed that he
won’t get the jobs, he doesn’t try very hard to stand out from the other applicants. He’s convinced
they’re better than him. His fortune telling in this situation prevents him from putting forth any effort.
Not surprisingly, he doesn’t get the jobs, but it’s because his negative fortune telling is controlling his
behavior. Often we try to predict the future in situations without any evidence to support our claim, and
sometimes we even try to predict an outcome when there’s evidence to the contrary. Negative fortune
telling without proper objective evidence sets us up for failure because we’ll be much less likely to
give the situation the chance it deserves.
Emotional Reasoning: As we’ve seen, sometimes our automatic thoughts are based
on irrational assumptions. If we stop and think about them rationally, breaking them
down based on solid evidence, then we see them as irrational and replace them with
new, more rational viewpoints. If we analyze them with emotional reasoning, though,
we feed into them and come to faulty conclusions. Basically, emotional reasoning is
basing our thoughts and beliefs on our feelings.
If you’re getting ready to give a speech in a meeting and you’re nervous, you might think, “I must not
be very well prepared. Otherwise I wouldn’t be so nervous. I’m going to make a fool out of myself!”
Even though you spent several hours the day before preparing materials and information for this
presentation, you’re discounting this fact because you’re nervous about speaking in front of your boss
and co-workers. Nervousness is a normal emotional reaction to the situation, but it doesn’t mean that
you don’t know the material. This reasoning doesn’t work because the only evidence used is the way
you feel in a certain situation, and it doesn’t take into account all the other factors operating at the time.
Shoulding: ‘Shoulding yourself’ is criticizing yourself by concentrating on all the

things you should be doing instead of whatever you’re doing at the time.
If you’re watching a movie and all you can think is, “I should be studying”, you diminish any possible
enjoyment you could be getting out of watching the movie. You also make it much less likely that
you’ll actually do all those things you “should” be doing. By simply saying, “I should be studying”,
you make it into a chore completely devoid of any benefit, and you won’t want to do it. If instead you
think, “If I study now, I will have more time tomorrow to hang out with my friends, and I’d rather hang
out with them tomorrow than watch this movie right now”, then you’re weighing your options and
making a decision to study that will yield a positive result. Sure, everyone has obligations in situations
that they have to take care of, and these obligations aren’t always exactly what we’d like to be doing at
the moment. By weighing the costs and benefits rather than simply imposing “shoulds” on every
obligation, we can make the most of our time and get more enjoyment out of life. Some shoulds are
even more harmful. While “I should be studying”, will most likely just lead to procrastination, “I
should be reading a classic novel by Dickens rather than this scientific fantasy fiction because I need to
get smarter”, is worse because it’s based on the idea that we should spend even our free time doing
what other people expect of us (or, in many cases, what we think they expect of us) rather than what we
enjoy or think is right. A great example is people who go to college because they think that they
“should”. If, after weighing all the options, someone decides that college isn’t the best option for them,
they don’t have to go, even if they think that others will judge them for that choice. “Shoulding”
ourselves can lead to making major life decisions that aren’t necessarily the actual best choices.
Personalization/ Blame: Personalization is when we take the blame for outcomes

that are beyond our control. Blame is when we point the finger at somebody else for
an outcome something that we caused. Personalization and blame are both based on
the assumption that people should be perfect and never make mistakes, and when
mistakes are made, someone must be at fault and made to pay. The problem here is
that everybody makes mistakes, and mistakes are simply an opportunity for us to
learn to be better and grow. Punishment isn’t necessary for everyday errors; the idea
is to see where we went wrong and try to do better in the future. It also means
learning to distinguish between things we did wrong, factors we couldn’t control
(such as other people’s reactions, opinions, and ideas), and things that were caused by
other’s actions.
Let’s say that Jane, who got dumped a few examples ago, got dumped because her boyfriend was
moving away and didn’t want to try to maintain a long distance relationship. If she tells herself, “I
don’t care what he says. I got dumped because I’m ugly and stupid”, then she’s blaming herself for the
outcome of a situation when it actually had nothing to do with who she is. It wasn’t her fault that he
had to move, and it wasn’t her fault that he doesn’t believe in long distance relationships. Now she
feels guilty for being herself (which, by the way, is not “ugly” or “stupid” - these are cognitive
distortions in and of themselves).
All or None: All-or-nothing thinking is the same as saying, ‘Everything is black or

white’. Perfectionists often engage in all-or-nothing thinking. People are either all
good or all bad.
An example would be if Babul overslept one morning and thought, “I don’t have time to run my usual
full 5 miles today, so I’m not going to run at all. I’m such a lazy bum”. Even though Babul does have
time to run 3 miles, he’s given up because he can’t see the benefit in modifying his standard. He also
has decided that this automatically makes him a “bad” person. A lot of times women will engage in all-
or-nothing thinking about their bodies. They think, “Either I’m thin, toned, and a perfect size 6, or I’m
a fat disgusting slob in a size 10”. This is a distortion; it doesn’t take into account that people are
different. There are variations in height, frame, and muscular structure that can influence our size. This
one example of all-or-nothing thinking can lead to more harmful all-or-nothing thinking such as, “I’m
already fat, so I might as well just eat that whole pint of ice cream and box of cookies”, or the other
extreme, “I’m so fat, I should only eat and apple at breakfast, lunch, and dinner”. All-or-nothing
thinking looks at things as absolutes rather than a combination of factors. It also assumes that people,
places, and things can be perfect, and if they’re not completely without flaws they must be horrible.
All of these cognitive distortions can have harmful effects on our feelings and
behavior. By learning to recognize them, we can learn to talk ourselves out of such
thinking and see things in a more positive light. They won’t go away just because we
realize that they’re there, but we can learn how to spot them when they do arise and
change our outlook by applying more rational thinking.
You Are What You Think

Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Which came first, the depression symptoms
or the pessimistic thoughts? I can’t answer the first question, but the answer to the
latter may surprise you. In many cases, depression actually is the result of habitual
negative thoughts. When bad things happen, we begin chastising ourselves with
thoughts such as - I’m no good, I’m a total failure or nothing ever goes my way. Our
feelings follow what we are thinking, and negative thoughts like these can send us
spiraling down into depression. This concept is the guiding principle behind cognitive
therapy, a type of psychotherapy developed by psychiatrist Aaron T. Beck in the
1960s. If we think something often enough, we begin to believe it’s true and our
feelings match what we are thinking about ourselves. To conquer depression, we must
stop those automatic negative thoughts and replace them with more positive, truthful
ones. By nipping these thoughts in the bud, we can halt depression before it even
starts.
Cognitive therapy is directed at 10 common cognitive distortions, or faulty thought
patterns, that send us into depression. See if you recognize yourself in any of these.
 All-or-Nothing Thinking: Jony recently applied for a promotion in his firm. The
job went to another employee with more experience. Jony wanted this job badly
and now feels that he will never be promoted. He feels that he is a total failure in
his career.
 Overgeneralization: Liza is lonely and often spends most of her time at home. Her
friends sometimes ask her to come out for dinner and meet new people. Liza feels
that is it useless to try to meet people. No one really could like her. People are all
mean and superficial anyway.
 Mental Filter: Mouri is having a bad day. As she drives home, a kind gentleman
waves her to go ahead of him as she merges into traffic. Later in her trip, another
driver cuts her off. She grumbles to herself that there are nothing but rude and
insensitive people in her city.
 Disqualifying the Positive: Ruhi just had her portrait made. Her friend tells her
how beautiful she looks. Ruhi brushes aside the compliment by saying that the
photographer must have touched up the picture. She never looks that good in real
life, she thinks.
 Jumping to Conclusions: Rasel is waiting for his date at a restaurant. She’s now
20 minutes late. Rasel laments to himself that he must have done something
wrong and now she has stood him up. Meanwhile, across town, his date is stuck in
traffic.
 Magnification and Minimization: Sujit is playing football. He bungles a play that
he’s been practicing for weeks. He later scores the winning touchdown. His
teammates compliment him. He tells them he should have played better; the
touchdown was just dumb luck.
 Emotional Reasoning: Lota looks around her untidy house and feels overwhelmed
by the prospect of cleaning. She feels that it’s hopeless to even try to clean.
 Should Statements: Raju is sitting in his doctor’s waiting room. His doctor is
running late. Raju sits stewing, thinking, “With how much I’m paying him, he
should be on time. He ought to have more consideration”. He ends up feeling
bitter and resentful.
 Labeling and Mislabeling: Shopna just cheated on her diet. I’m a fat, lazy pig, she
thinks.
 Personalization: Ruma’s son is doing poorly in school. She feels that she must be
a bad mother. She feels that it’s all her fault that he isn’t studying.
If you recognize any of these behaviors in yourself, then you’re halfway there. Here’s
a homework assignment for you - Over the next few weeks, monitor the self-defeating
ways in which you respond to situations. Practice recognizing your automatic
responses. Now, we will take each of the above cognitive distortions and discuss
some powerful coping strategies that will help you dispel the blues before they even
start.
Irrational Thoughts
Here are 10 specific thoughts that must be recognized, evaluated, challenged and
changed. It is rigid and thoughtless adherence to these specific ideas that cause us
problems, not life itself.
 Irrational Idea - 1: It is a dire necessity for an adult to be loved or approved by
almost everyone for virtually everything s/he does.
 Irrational Idea - 2: One should be thoroughly competent, adequate, and achieving
in all possible respects.
 Irrational Idea - 3: Certain people are bad, wicked, or villainous and they should
be severely blamed and punished for their sins.
 Irrational Idea - 4: It is terrible, horrible, and catastrophic when things are not
going the way one would like them to go.
 Irrational Idea - 5: Human happiness is externally caused and people have little or
no ability to control their sorrows or rid themselves of their negative feelings.
 Irrational Idea - 6: If something is or may be dangerous or fearsome, one should
be terribly occupied with it and upset about it.
 Irrational Idea - 7: It is easier to avoid facing many life difficulties and self-
responsibilities than to undertake more rewarding forms of self-discipline.
 Irrational Idea - 8: The past is all-important and because something once strongly
affected one’s life, it should indefinitely do so.
 Irrational Idea - 9: People and things should be different from the way that they
are, and it is catastrophic if perfect to the grim realities of life are not immediately
found.
 Irrational Idea - 10: Maximum human happiness can be achieved by inertia and
inaction or by passively ‘enjoying oneself’.
The six-step change model works for both work and personal life and is direct,
straightforward and results-oriented -
Step One: Gather Data - First, you need self-cooperation and commitment. Start by
exploring the problem to figure out what is happening. Don’t accept your diagnosis or
view of the problem.
Step Two: Study the Data and Develop an Understanding of the Problem - Identify
the facts (not your interpretation) - just the facts, as if you were looking at a video.
Step Three: Develop a Plan - Study the various lists of flawed thinking patterns and
identify which one/s you may be using in this situation. Treating your thoughts (my
boss hates me; my spouse is probably unfaithful) as if they were uttered by an
external person whose mission is to make your life miserable and then marshal
evidence against the thoughts. Avoid blame, use humor and self-congratulation.
Step Four: Dispute your Problem Thinking - Actively and relentlessly dispute your
flawed thinking patterns.
Step Five: Replace Problem Thinking with New Thinking - Develop new thinking to
replace the old. This new thinking must meet several criteria -
 It must be more accurate and true in real life than the old thinking. So not try to
think things that are not true (it is not a Pollyanna approach). When you carefully
examine the old, you can usually discern that the old thinking was, in fact,
irrational. New replacement thoughts must pass the tests of truthfulness and
accuracy, or the system won’t work. Why should you impose more incorrect
thinking on yourself?
 The new thinking must be reasonable and achievable. Grandiose or extremely
radical new thinking isn’t likely to work (unless you are a radical sort of person).
People rarely change their thinking in radical ways (outside of cults). Thought
changes must be relatively small and not significantly incompatible with the rest
of your beliefs and attitudes. If you want to make large-scale changes in your
belief system, a longer-term plan must be adopted and it should include small
steps to get there.
 The new thinking must be acceptable to you. If it violates your core values or
religious views, it probably won’t last, even if you think it will.
Step Six: Reinforce and Sustain New Thinking - Reward and support them in your
daily work and personal life. Behavior and thinking changes are usually
uncomfortable at first. It may be useful at this stage to enlist the active involvement of
others, especially if others are to benefit from it. The old ways of thinking are
likely to be resilient and can easily bounce back before new thinking is solidly
entrenched.
At its best, this approach can work wonders in a short period of time. Some people
can rapidly learn to notice and label their thinking and then change it to great benefit,
especially when motivated. Most people can learn this technique with relative ease
and can implement significant changes that are sustainable, provided someone
consistently reminds and reinforces these changes over a period of several months.
Even so, humans tend to slip back into old patterns and its helps to have
reinforcement available for extended periods of time. This can include simple
reminders like small signs around the office, a note posted on the fridge, or a regular
journal with a commitment to long-term change. If you are making work-related
changes, it is useful to recruit team members and co-workers to help with the process,
if this would not embarrass you.
ABC Change Model for Learning Optimism
It’s much easier to be optimistic if you come from a family where your parents were
understanding of your failures and attributed them to external, rather than internal,
factors. Families that have experienced major traumas but cope and recover from
adversity also produce more optimistic offspring. Parents of optimists encourage their
children to deal with setbacks in an optimistic way and differentially reinforce
optimism and persistence. Optimism is also related to the ability to delay gratification
and forgo short-term gains in order to achieve long-term goals, probably because
optimistic people can have faith that long-term goals are achievable.
Seligman has found success in teaching a form of learned optimism to people with a
pessimistic explanatory style, using the ABCDE approach. ‘ABC’ refers to how we
react negatively to success or adversity, while ‘DE’ refers to how we can rethink the
pessimistic reaction into an optimistic one. The letters are defined as follows -
 A (Adversity). Recognize when adversity hits. For die-hard pessimists, successes
are a form of adversity; they say, “It won’t last”, “I was just lucky”, or “Too little,
too late”.
 B (Beliefs). Be aware of what you believe about the adversity.
 C (Consequences). Be aware of the emotional and other consequences of your
belief about that adversity.
 D (Disputation). Question whether your beliefs are the only explanation.
 E (Energization). Be aware of the new consequences (feelings, behaviors, actions)
that do or could follow from a different, more optimistic explanation or set of
beliefs.
Here is an example of the ABCDE model as applied to a specific situation. The train
of thought went like this -
 I didn’t finish this chapter by the end of the holiday as I promised my wife and
myself I would do. (Adversity)
 I’m an incurable procrastinator who’ll never meet my goals. (Beliefs - a personal,
pervasive, and permanent explanation, which is therefore pessimistic)
 I might as well abandon this project and settle for a life of less ambitious projects.
That way, my wife won’t be disappointed with me when I miss deadlines.
(Consequence)
 Wait a minute! Lots of writers set unrealistic deadlines. Besides, my wife and I
did several things together and with her parents that had a very positive impact on
our relationship. And if sticking to my schedule were so all-fired important to her,
she could have insisted on doing some of those things without me. (Disputation)
 I’ll talk about my schedule with her and get her input on whether the remainder of
the schedule is important to her. If not, I’ll push my deadlines back. If so, I’ll ask
her assistance and cooperation in finding ways to make more time for writing. I
really don’t want to give up this project. It’s exciting, even if it is a little off-
schedule. (Energization)
If you are a ruminator (someone who talks silently and continually to himself or
herself in a negative vein, as in “I’m going to fail. I’m no good.. .”), then you need to
learn more than just a more optimistic explanatory style. You need to learn how to
jerk away from the hold that pessimistic thoughts have on you. Seligman suggests
several distracting techniques in his book, including wearing a rubber band on your
wrist (snap it when you start ruminating) and creating physical distractions (such as
slapping the wall or doing isometric exercises) as ways to pop the pessimistic
preoccupation out of your mind.
Irrational Beliefs
Irrational beliefs are -
 Messages about life we send to ourselves that keep us from growing emotionally.
 Scripts we have in our head about how we believe life ‘should’ be for us and for
others.
 Unfounded attitudes, opinions and values we hold to that are out of synchrony
with the way the world really is.
 Negative sets of habitual responses we hold to when faced with stressful events or
situations.
 Stereotypical ways of problem solving we fall into in order to deal with life’s
pressures.
 Ideas, feelings, beliefs, ways of thinking, attitudes, opinions, biases, prejudices or

values with which we were raised. We have become accustomed to using them
when faced with problems in our current life, even when they are not productive
in helping us reach a positive, growth-enhancing solution.
 Self-defeating ways of acting. On the surface they may look appropriate for the
occasion, but actually they result in a neutral or negative consequence for us.
 Habitual ways of thinking, feeling or acting that we think are effective; however,
in the long run they are ineffectual.
 Counterproductive ways of thinking, which give comfort and security in the short
run, but either do not resolve or actually exacerbate the problem in the long run.
 Negative or pessimistic ways of looking at necessary life experiences such as loss,
conflict, risk taking, rejection or accepting change.
 Overly optimistic or idealistic ways of looking at necessary life experiences such
as loss, conflict, risk taking, rejection or accepting change.
 Emotional arguments for taking or not taking action in the face of a challenge.
When followed they result in no personal gain, but rather in greater personal
hardship or loss.
 Patterns of thinking that make us appear to others as stubborn, bullheaded,
intemperate, argumentative or aloof.
 Ways of thinking about ourselves that are out of context with the real facts,
resulting in our either under-valuing or over-valuing ourselves.
 Means by which we become confused about the intentions of others when we are
enmeshed in interpersonal problems with them.
 Lifelong messages sent to us either formally or informally by - society,
culture, community, race, ethnic reference group, neighborhood, church, social
networks, family, relatives, peer group, school, work or parents. They are
unproductive in solving our current problem or crisis, but we are either unwilling
or unable to let go of them. These messages can be very clear to us or they can be
hidden in our subconscious.
 Conclusions about life that we have developed over time, living in an irrational
environment not identified as being irrational (e.g., beliefs developed as a member
of a high-stress family).
 Standards by which we were reared and from which we learned how to act, what
to believe and how to express or experience feelings. When followed, however,
these standards do not result in a satisfactory resolution of our current problems.
 Ritualistic ways by which we pursue our relationships with others, resulting in
nonproductive relationships and increased emotional stress.
 Outmoded, unproductive, unrealistic expectations exacted on ourselves and/or

others, guaranteed to be unattainable and to result in continuing negative self-
concepts.
Some Examples of Irrational Beliefs
Irrational beliefs (negative) about self-
* I do not deserve positive attention from others.
* I should never burden others with my problems or fears.
* I am junk.
* I am uncreative, nonproductive, ineffective and untalented.
* I am worthless.
* I am the worst example on earth of a person.
* I am powerless to solve my problems.
* I have so many problems; I might as well give up right now.
* I am so dumb about things, I can never solve anything as complex as this.
* I am the ugliest, most unattractive, unappealing, fat slob in the world.
Irrational beliefs (negative) about others -
* No one cares about anyone else.
* All men (or women) are dishonest and are never to be trusted.
* Successful relationships are a trick; you have no control over how they turn out.
* People are out to get whatever they can from you; you always end up being used.
* People are so opinionated; they are never willing to listen to other’s points of
view.
* You are bound to get hurt in a relationship; it makes no difference how you try to
change it.
* There is a loser in every fight, so avoid fights at all costs.
* All people are out for number 1; you need to know you’ll always be number 2, no
matter what.
* It’s not who you are but what you do that makes you attractive to another person.
* What counts in life are others’ opinions of you.
* There is a need to be on guard in dealing with others to insure that you don’t get
hurt.
Irrational beliefs on other topics -
* There is only one way of doing things.
* Work is the punishment man must endure for being human.
* A family that plays (prays) together always stays together.
* Always protecting against the forces of evil in life is the only way to live.
* There are always two choices - right or wrong; black or white; win or lose; pass or
fail; grow or stagnate.
* Once you are married and have children, you join the normal human race.
* A handicapped person is imperfect, to be pitied and to be dropped along the path of
life.
* Admitting to a mistake or to failure is a sign of weakness.
* The showing of any kind of emotion is wrong, a sign of weakness, and not
allowable.
* Asking for help from someone else is a way of admitting your weakness; it denies
the reality that only you can solve your problems.
Recognize Irrational Beliefs
Irrational beliefs can be present if we -
 Find ourselves caught up in a vicious cycle in addressing our problems.
 Find a continuing series of ‘catch 22s’ where every move we make to resolve a
problem results in more or greater problems.
 Have been suffering silently (or not so silently) with a problem for a long time,
yet have not taken steps to get help to address the problem.
 Have decided on a creative problem solving solution, yet find ourselves incapable
of implementing the solution.
 Have chosen a problem solving course of action to pursue and find that we are
unhappy with this course of action; yet we choose to avoid looking for
alternatives.
 Are afraid of pursuing a certain course of action because of the guilt we will feel
if we do it.
 Find we are constantly obsessed with a problem yet take no steps to resolve it.
 Find we are immobilized in the face of our problems.
 Find that the only way to deal with problems is to avoid them, deny them,
procrastinate about them, ignore them, run away from them, turn our back on
them.
 Find that we can argue both sides of our problem, becoming unable to make a
decision.
Benefits of Refuting Irrational Beliefs
By refuting our irrational beliefs, we are able to -
 Unblock our emotions and feelings about ourselves and our problems.
 Become productive, realistic problem solvers.
 Gain greater credibility with ourselves and others.
 Gain clarity, purpose and intention in addressing our current problems.

 Reduce the fear of guilt or of hurting others in solving problems.
 Identify the barriers and obstacles that must first be hurdled before our problems
can be resolved.
 Come to greater honesty about ourselves and our problems.
 Put our problem into a realistic perspective as to its importance, magnitude and
probability of being solved.
 Separate our feelings from the content of the problem.
 Live richer, more authentic lives.
 View our lives in a healthier perspective, with greater meaning and direction.
 Gain our sense of humor in the presence of our problems and in their resolution.
 Recognize our self-worth and self-goodness and separate it from the errors and
mistakes we have made in our lives.
 Forgive ourselves and others for mistakes made.
 Give ourselves and others kindness, tenderness and understanding during times of
great stress.
 Gain a sense of purpose and order in our lives as we solve problems.
 Feel productive as we labor through the muck and mire of our problems.
 Respect our rights and the rights of others as we solve problems.
 Clarify our feelings about the behavior of others without the barrier of self-
censorship or fear of rejection.
 Gain a ‘win-win’ solution to problems, which involves ourselves with others. It
opens us up to compromise.
Steps to Take in Refuting an Irrational Belief
Step 1: Is your thinking and problem solving ability being blocked by an irrational
belief?
 Consider a specific problem as you answer the following questions - Am I going
in circles in trying to solve this problem?
 Is there something inside of me that is preventing or keeping me from taking the
necessary actions in this matter?
 Am I bothered by the thoughts of what I or others should do, act like, think or feel
in this situation?
 Do I find myself saying how this situation ‘should be’, having a hard time facing
it the way it really is?
 Do I use fantasy or magical thinking in looking at this problem? Am I always
hoping that by some miracle it will go away?
 Am I burdened by the fear of what others think of me as I work on this problem?
 Do I know what the solution is, but become paralyzed in its implementation?
 Do I find myself using a lot of ‘yes, buts’ in discussing this problem?
 Do I find it easier to procrastinate, avoid, divert my attention, ignore or run away
from this problem?
 Is this problem causing much distress and discomfort for me and/or others, and
yet I remain stumped in trying to resolve it?
Step 2: If you have answered yes to any or all of the questions in Step 1, you are
probably facing a problem or situation in which a blocking irrational belief is
clouding your thinking. The next thing to do is to try to identify the blocking
irrational belief.
 Is the blocking belief something I have believed in all my life?
 Is the blocking belief coming from the teachings of my parents, family, peers,
work, society, culture, community, race, ethnic reference group or social network?
 Is the blocking belief something that always recurs when I am trying to solve
problems similar to this one?
 Is the blocking belief something that has helped me solve problems successfully
in the past?
 Is the blocking belief one that tends to make me dishonest with myself about this
problem?
 Is the blocking belief an immobilizing concept that sparks fear of guilt or fear of
rejection in my mind as I face this problem?
 Is the blocking belief something that can be stated in a sentence or two?
 Is the blocking belief a consistent statement as I face this problem, or does it tend
to change as variables of this problem become more clear to me?
 Is the blocking belief a tangible statement of belief or is it simply a feeling or
intuition?
 Can I state the blocking belief? If so, write it in your journal, ‘My blocking belief
is’ and fill out your answer.
Step 3: Once you have identified the blocking belief in Step 2, test its rationality.
Answer the following questions about the belief, ‘yes’ or ‘no’.
 Is there any basis in reality to support this belief as always being true?
 Does this belief encourage personal growth, emotional maturity, independence of
thinking and action, and stable mental health?
 Is this belief one which, if ascribed to, will help you overcome this or future
problems in your life?
 Is this belief one which, if ascribed to, will result in behavior that is self defeating
for you?
 Does this belief protect you and your rights as a person?

 Does this belief assist you in connecting honestly and openly with others so that
healthy, growth engendering interpersonal relationships result?
 Does this belief assist you in being a creative, rational problem solver who is able
to identify a series of alternatives from which you can choose your own personal
priority solutions?
 Does this belief stifle your thinking and problem solving ability to the point of
immobilization?
 When you tell others of this belief do they support you because that is the way
everyone in your family, peer group, work or community thinks?
 Is this belief an absolute? Is it a black or white, yes or no, win or lose, with no
options in the middle type of belief?

[Healthy answers are: 1-no, 2-yes, 3-yes, 4-no, 5-yes, 6-yes, 7-yes, 8-no, 9-no and 10-
no. If you are unable to give healthy answers to one or more question in Step 2, then
your blocking belief is most likely irrational.]
Step 4: Once you have determined that the blocking belief is irrational, you are ready
to refute this irrational belief. Respond to the following questions in your journal -
 How do I consistently feel when I think of this belief?
 Is there anything in reality to support this belief as being true?
 What in reality supports the lack of absolute truth in this belief?

 Does the truth of this belief exist only in the way I talk, act or feel about this
problem?
 What is the worst thing that could happen to me if I do not hold on to this
belief?
 What positive things might happen to me if I do not hold on to this belief?
 What would be an appropriate, realistic belief I could substitute for this irrational
belief?
 How would I feel if I substituted this new belief for my blocking belief?
 How will I grow and how will my rights and the rights of others be protected by
this substitute belief?
 What is keeping me from accepting this alternate belief?
Once you have answered these questions, substitute a rational belief and act on it:
“My substitute rational healthy belief is”.
Step 5: If you still have trouble solving problems, return to Step 1 and begin
again.
TIME MANAGEMENT
Time management is the process of structuring our lives so that we maximize our
time and energy on what is most important to us; and minimize the time we spend on
activities we do not value. Time management is an important tool that can help you
succeed in school, work and other personal endeavors. By learning how to manage
your time you will be able to -
 Achieve More  Reduce Stress
 Lead a Balanced Life  Greater Productivity and Efficiency
 Have More Free Time  Better Professional Reputation
 Meet Deadlines  Increased Opportunities
 Overcome Procrastination  Achieve Important Life and Career Goals.
Failing to manage your time effectively can have some very undesirable
consequences - Missed deadlines; Inefficient work flow; Poor work quality; A poor
professional reputation and a stalled career; Higher stress levels etc. Spending a little
time learning about time-management techniques will have huge benefits now - and
throughout your career.
The first step to effective time management begins with finding out how you use your
time. Do this by keeping an activity log for a week. Evaluate your results by asking
yourself, “Did I accomplish what I was supposed to? Was I often pressed for time? At
what time of the day was I most productive? Least productive? How much time was
allotted for personal activities?” Your next step is to make a list of everything you
plan to do, dividing the list into fixed commitments and flexible commitments. Fixed
commitments are those tasks that you absolutely must complete by a specific
deadline. Flexible commitments are obligations you can meet on a time available
basis. Assign priorities to your list and set aside enough time to do the designated
tasks.
How to Manage Time

Good time management is essential for coping with the pressures of modern life
without experiencing too much stress. If you never have enough time to finish your
tasks, better time management will help you regain control of your day. Good time
management doesn’t mean you do more work. It means you focus on the tasks that
matter and will make a difference. Whether it’s in your job or your lifestyle as a
whole, learning how to manage your time effectively will help you feel more relaxed,
focused and in control. The aim of good time management is to achieve the lifestyle
balance you want. Here are the techniques for better time management -
 Establish a Timetable: Schedule fixed commitments e.g. lectures, tutorials, sports

training. Also schedule in due dates for assignments, projects etc.- it is useful to
bring these dates forward by a few days to give you that extra time that can
provide you with an opportunity to reflect and that can also compensate for the
unexpected, e.g. illnesses. Decide how you can best use the remaining time,
recognizing the importance of allocating time for recreation, socializing, family,
self etc.
 Plan Your Day: Begin each day with a list of things you both ‘have to’ and ‘want
to’ accomplish. It is better to have more items on your list than less. A task will
tend to expand with the time allocated for it. If you have one or two items on your
list it is likely to take all day to do them. However if you have ten items on your
list you may not complete all ten but you are likely to have completed seven or
eight during the same allocation of time. A full day is better than an empty day.
 Prioritize the List: This is about knowing what is important. Rate the tasks in
order of priority, and tackle them in order of importance doing the most important
first. Tasks can be grouped in four categories - urgent and important; not urgent
but important; urgent but not important; and neither urgent nor important. People
with good time management create time to concentrate on non-urgent, important
activities. By so doing, they minimize the chances of activities ever becoming
urgent and important.
 Practice the 4 Ds: We can spend up to half our working day going through our
email inbox, making us tired, frustrated and unproductive. A study has found that
one-in-three office workers suffer from email stress. Making a decision the first
time you open an email is crucial for effective time management. To manage this
burden effectively, it advises practicing the 4 Ds of decision-making -
 Delete - half of the emails you get can probably be deleted immediately.
 Do - if the email is urgent or can be completed quickly.
 Delegate - if the email can be better dealt with by someone else.
 Defer - set aside time at a later date to spend on emails that require longer
action.
 Work Out Your Goals: This first step towards improving your time management
is to ask yourself some questions. “Work out who you want to be, your priorities
in life, and what you want to achieve in your career or personal life”. That is then
the guiding principle for how you spend your time and how you manage it. Once
you have worked out the big picture, even if it’s quite general, you can then work
out some short-term and medium-term goals. Knowing your goals will help you
plan better and focus on the things that will help you achieve those goals.
 Make a List: A common time-management mistake is trying to remember too

many details, leading to information overload. A better way to stay organized and
take control of your projects and tasks is to use a to-do list to write things down.
 Work Smarter, not Harder: Good time management at work means doing high-
quality work, not high quantity. It advises concentrating not on how busy you are
but on results. Spending more time on something doesn’t necessarily achieve
more. Staying an extra hour at work at the end of the day may not be the most
effective way to manage your time.
 Organize Your Place of Work: Ensure that your study area is a pleasant
environment. Organize your books, papers etc. so that they are easily accessed,
searching for things is a big time waster. Have a tidy desk.
 Know Your Peak Times: Decide when you have most energy as this corresponds
with when you are most able to focus and concentrate. Schedule your most
demanding work for these times and less demanding work for other times when
energy is not as high.
 Study Strategy: Study for about an hour at a time then have a short break. This is
an efficient study method because while you are taking a break the brain is still
processing the information. Breaks between study blocks also ensure that your
levels of concentration are more likely to be maintained.
 Divide and Conquer: A large assignment or project may appear overwhelming
however it becomes manageable and achievable when broken down into several
smaller parts. Complete one part at a time.
 Allocate Thinking and Reflection Time: After having completed a piece of writing
it can be very useful to leave it for a day or two and then to return to it with new
ideas and enthusiasm. Effective time management can allow you the space to do
this.
 Avoid Procrastination: Develop strategies that help you resist being hindered by
procrastination. Make decisions that are valuing of you and undermining of
procrastination. It can be useful to start early in the day. Completing one small
task soon after waking up is very empowering and can reduce the risk of
procrastination. Reward yourself when you have successfully resisted
procrastination and completed your tasks.
 Learn How to Deal with Interruptions: Let the person interrupting you know that
you are studying and that you really need to continue. Effective time-management
allows you free time so learn how to politely and assertively invite people to
phone or visit you during these specific, non-study times.
 Take Care of Yourself: Ensure that your diet is nutritional, that you get sufficient
sleep, that you get enough exercise and have time to ‘smell the roses’, plan an
hour each day for ‘Me Time’.
 Make Time for a Social Life: Ensure that you schedule time for socializing,
catching up with friends, seeing a movie, visiting family members etc. This
contributes to achieving balance in your life which is beneficial to effective study.
 Spirituality: Life is more than study and work. Give yourself time to explore the
spiritual dimension and reflect on the amazing journey that is your life. Keep the
big picture in mind - value yourself and what you want to achieve in your life.
 Save Energy: To save it you need to know where and how you’re losing it.
Eliminate negative feelings; criticism of others; defensiveness for self. As you do
this, a surplus of energy will result.
Tools for Time Management Counseling

Put ‘first things first’ and prioritize: The significance of importance and urgency in
choosing our actions is illustrated in the chart below created by Stephen Covey,
author of the book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”.
Urgent Not Urgent
Important Quadrant I: Everything in this Quadrant II: This is where you are
quadrant is urgent and important. in planning mode. This is long-
There are your tasks that term thinking and strategy building
absolutely have to get done by done without the pressure of
yesterday. Example - Staying up deadlines. Example - Creating a
all night cramming for an 8:00 study group in the first week of the
a.m. test. semester.
Not Quadrant III: These are Quadrant IV: This is where you
Important unimportant activities done with a waste your time. Become more
sense of urgency. This quadrant conscious of your choices and
often contains stuff that is urgent minimize wasting the irreplaceable
to someone else, but not important hours of the day. Example -
to you. Example - Attending a Mindlessly watching television
hastily called meeting that has until 4:00 a.m.
nothing to do with your goals.
Define your goals: Goals give us the following -
 meaning and direction for our lives ;
a means in which we can evaluate our progress;

 a plan to follow.
Goals keep us focused so we don’t go astray.
Create a to-do list: Organize what you have to do. Split up large projects into small
parts. Create a to-do list for each part. Take your goals and break them down into
small, measurable steps.
Finish what you start: If interrupted, return to finish your task. Set an upper limit for
how many tasks you want in progress at any given time.
Set aside specific study time: Complete complex tasks first, or during your best time
of day. Set specific times for yourself with dates and times. Don’t schedule study
marathons. For every hour you are in class per week, plan on two hours of studying
outside of class.
Identify your time wasters: Time wasters are not only actions in Quadrant IV, but
also can be indecision, lack of planning, jumping from project to project, a
disorganized desk, procrastination, insisting on perfection. Finish one project before
starting the next. You’ll save time not having to reacquaint yourself with each project.
Use email filtering software: Stop wasting time scanning for junk email and deleting
them.
Be project specific before you sit down at your PC: Have you ever sat down at
your PC to do homework, but after a half-hour or an hour passes by, you have
accomplished nothing towards your homework? By being project specific at the
computer, you can focus on one item and be more efficient. You can also avoid
wasting time on Quadrant IV items. Also, use the 20-20-20 rule - Every 20 minutes,
look 20 feet away to refocus your eyes, and blink 20 times to moisten your eyes.
Set aside specific time when you browse the Internet: Many people jump online
and set out to do one thing, but then get caught up in browsing forums or they look at
a new product or get involved in email. Set aside time to check your email, go onto
My Space, up-date your iTunes or PDA outside of time for doing homework. Use a
separate file or system for information. Set aside 20 minutes to catch up on
newsletters for information.
Two-minute pick-up: Practice the ‘two-minute pick-up’ every time you leave a room
or your desk. Before you leave a room, turn around and quickly put away everything
for two minutes. The more you put away before you leave, the smoother your
transition when you return and the less you have to distract you at your desk.
Avoid procrastination: You can do anything for 10 minutes. To get yourself started
on something that you have been procrastinating on, grab a timer and set it for 10
minutes. Then do that one thing for 10 minutes. If you continue on after that, great! If
not, you at least put 10 minutes into that task.

Delay gratification: Give yourself some rewards for completing tasks. Treat yourself
to dessert after you have avoided procrastination. Don’t go out to eat until you have
completed items off your to-do list. At the same time, don’t allow yourself to buy that
new pair of jeans if you haven’t completed your tasks.
Tips to Improve Time Management Skills

When you learn and maintain good time management skills, you’ll find freedom from
deadline pressure and from stress in general. You’ll be more productive, procrastinate
less, and have more time to relax, which helps further decrease stress and anxiety.
Time management skills are like shoes or a good pair of jeans - you may have to try
several pair before you find just the right fit. They’re different for each person and
you have to find what works best for you.
1. Make A List. The thing about making lists is that you actually have to use them.
You may want to set reminders on your phone and computer. Lists really do work
if you use them. One of the most important things is to make sure your list feels
attainable. No one wants a 30-item to-do list and have to, at the end of the day,
look at the 20 items that didn’t get done. Prioritize yours and others’ needs and
plan accordingly. You might even want to make three lists - personal, home and
work.
2. Set Deadlines. Again, there is no point in setting deadlines if you make executive
decisions to always push them back. Set a deadline and try your best to stick to it.
Set your deadline a few days before the task absolutely has to be done. This
allows for the possibility that other things will get in the way, but also allow for
you still to get the task done.
3. Stop Multi-tasking. Multi-taskers often seem to think they get more accomplished,
but it’s not always the most productive or efficient route. Let’s face it, our minds
work better when we are truly able to focus and concentrate on one thing.
4. Delegate Responsibilities. For those of us who like to be in control the very
thought of this is likely to provoke a bit of anxiety. The truth of the matter is that
no matter how good we are, we can’t do everything. Sometimes we take on more
than we can handle. Delegation is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of
intelligence. Find competent, reliable people and share some of the
responsibilities. It will allow you to be less stressed and more productive.
5. Use Your Downtime. This tip requires some balance. Using all of your downtime
for planning and prioritizing is bad and can lead to increased stress and burnout.
However, if you find yourself sitting in early morning traffic, this may be a good
time to start prioritizing your day or making plans for dinner. If you’re waiting in
the doctor’s office, this may be a good time to write the grocery list (Just don’t
forget it.). If you have opportunities like these make the best of them, but also
remember to use them for relaxation as needed.
6. Reward Yourself. When you accomplish something, celebrate it. How you
celebrate is up to you. My word of advice is to keep whatever you choose to do
healthy, make sure it’s something you really enjoy, don’t do it in excess, and don’t
let it cause you to get further behind.
Time management skills are an essential part of making your day just a little easier.
Find what works for you and stick to it.
Benefits of Time Management

Time management means staying on top of your time, life, and activities. It shouldn’t
take extreme effort, but it does require discipline. However, the benefits of time
management far outweigh the work required. Here are 10 life benefits of time
management -
 Less Stress: Managing your time can directly reduce your stress level. Fewer
surprises; fewer tight deadlines. Less rushing from task-to-task and place-to-place.
 Get More Done: Of course, being productive is one of the main goals of time
management. When you are aware of what you need to do, you are able to better
manage your workload. You will be able to get more (of the right tasks) done in
less time.
 Less Rework: Being organized results in less rework and mistakes. Forgotten
items, details, and instructions lead to extra work.
 Less Life Friction and Problems: How often do you create your own problems?
Whether it is a forgotten appointment or missed deadline, not managing your time
results in increased life friction. Avoid creating your own problems by planning
and preparing for your day.
 More Free Time: We can’t create more time, but you can make better use of it by
managing your time. Even simple actions like shifting your commute or getting
your work done early can produce more leisure time in your life.
 Less Wasted Time: When you know what you need to do, you waste less time in
idle activities. Instead of wondering what you should be doing next, you can
already be a step ahead of your work.
 More Opportunities: Being on top of your time and work produces more
opportunities. The early bird always has more options. As well, luck favors the
prepared.
 Improves Your Reputation: Your time management reputation will precede you.
At work and in life you will be known as reliable. No one is going to question
whether you are going to show up, do what you say you are going to do, or meet
that deadline.
 Less Effort: A common misconception is that time management takes extra effort.
To the contrary, proper time management makes your life easier. Things take less
effort, whether it is packing for that trip or finishing up that project.
 More Time Where it Matters: Managing your time is allotting your time where it
has the most impact. Time management allows you to spend your time on the
things that matter most to you.
 Manage Your Time, Improve Your Life: Time management is all about spending
your time in the right places, and on the right things. It’s about knowing your
priorities, obligations, and schedule. When you manage your time, you benefit in
all areas of life.
STRESS AND TIME MANAGEMENT MYTHS

Myths About Stress
Misunderstandings about stress can lead to more of it in our lives. Here are six points
offered by the ‘American Psychological Association’ to help you dispel common
myths about stress.
Myth - 1: Stress is the same for everyone.
Not true. We each have a different threshold for letting things get to us and we all
react to stress differently. Some people withdraw; some people experience anxiety;
some lose their cool. Identifying what your triggers are and what you tend to do under
stress are essential first steps in developing a successful stress management routine.
Myth - 2: Stress is bad.
Stress can be bad, but not always. In fact, in some circumstances, stress can help you
survive a dangerous situation (the normal fight or flight response). Stress also can be a
great motivator to getting things done. Whether stress is ‘good’ or ‘bad’ has more to
do with the amount of stress in your life and how you manage it rather than a simple
positive or negative valence.
Myth - 3: Stress is everywhere, so you just have to live with it.
Many aspects of today’s world (a bad economy, long work hours, over-scheduling,
etc.) lead to increased stress for many people. But stress is not everywhere and you
don’t have to simply accept it. You can shape your life in such a way that you have
stress-free time during your day. You also can develop effective strategies for
managing those experiences in your life that you do find stressful. Prioritizing,
breaking down complicated tasks into smaller, simpler projects, and effective time
management strategies are just a few of the ways to reduce stress.
Myth - 4: The most popular strategies for reducing stress are the best ones.
This is a dangerous myth to believe because it leads people to force themselves to
engage in activities that are ‘supposed’ to relieve stress even though those strategies
may not be effective strategies for their unique lifestyle and personality. There is no
one-size-fits-all stress management program. Many of the clients find yoga extremely
stressful whereas others live by it as a way to reduce stress. The best stress
management plan is the one that fits your unique needs and interests. If you try to
force stress management routines in your life because they seem to be working so
well for others, you’re likely to add to your stress rather than decrease it.
Myth - 5: No symptoms, no stress.
Not true. An absence of symptoms does not equate to an absence of stress. Over time,
chronic stress will eventually cause your mind and body to start wearing out (fatigue,
loss of productivity, forgetfulness, etc.). But this can take years, sometimes decades.
Don’t ignore the stress in your life simply because you may not be suffering at this
moment. Developing healthy stress management routines early in life will go a long
way in helping you get through the more challenging time when they arise.
Myth - 6: Only major symptoms of stress require attention.
Minor symptoms of stress will eventually turn into major symptoms of stress if not
effectively managed. Think of the minor signs of stress (headaches, feeling tired, etc.)
as warning flags. The most important thing to remember is that while there are many
ways to reduce stress, the key to effective stress management is rarely some seven-
day or 30-day program that tells you what to do to relax or how to find ‘balance’. The
key is discovering your own stress management program, one that works for you and
your lifestyle, then making the commitment to incorporate it into your life.
Myths About Time
Most individuals would like to achieve their goals and dreams in less time, with
less effort and with lower stress. And, they want to have confidence in their ability to
control their time and their lives in ways that allow them to be highly productive
while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Quite often, however, people feel a
very real sense of frustration. They seem unable to get everything done during the day
and rarely leave work at a decent hour with a feeling that they have actually
moved closer to their goals. The reason for these frustrations is the fact that
most people struggle with identifying the critical skills and strategies required to
attain their goals in a streamlined, effective and stress-free fashion. In addition,
common myths and misconceptions about effective time management cause us to go

astray in our efforts to achieve the important goals we envision for our businesses and
our lives - and become obstacles in our path to success. Here are the more common
myths -
Myth - 1: We can manage time.
We cannot manage time. Nor can we save it. Time ticks away relentlessly in spite of
our efforts to control it. We are provided with 24 hours of time each day to use as we
like. The key is in how we use that time. We can use it wisely, or we can waste it, but
we can never save it. At the end of the day, it’s gone.
Myth - 2: ‘To do’ lists help get things done.
‘To do’ lists do nothing to further a project or task. They simply remind us that they
are not done yet. Scheduling time in your planner as appointments with yourself helps
get tasks done. ‘To do’ lists are intentions; scheduled blocks of time are
commitments.
Myth - 3: Time is money.
Time is more than money, its life. You can always get more money, but you can never
get more time. It’s an irreplaceable resource. When time’s gone, you’re gone.
Myth - 4: I work best under pressure.
On the surface this sounds like a positive attribute. But, in reality, they are such great
procrastinators that they put everything off until the deadline for completion.
Alternately, they lack self-motivation to the degree that they need the external
pressure of a looming deadline to get any work done at all. Either way, it is highly
dubious they will produce their ‘best’ work under those conditions. That’s because no
one can produce their optimal work at the very last second. It’s simply impossible.
Myth - 5: The biggest time wasters - telephone interruptions, visitors, meetings and
rush jobs.
These are not time wasters, they are time obligations - they come with the job. The
biggest time wasters are self-imposed, such as procrastination, making mental notes,
interrupting us, searching for things, perfectionism and spending time on trivial tasks.
We are our own worst enemies. Being effective involves managing ourselves, not
placing the blame on others.
Myth - 6: It’s more efficient to stick to one task until it’s completed.
It may be more efficient, but it’s not more effective, for you will often not have time
to finish it. It’s more effective to break large projects into small one or two-hour
chunks and work at them for a brief period each day. Working on priorities involves
frequent brief sprints, not occasional marathons.
Myth - 7: We should have one planner for the office, and a separate planner for the
home.
We should have one planner, period. We are only one person, sharing our lives with
people and activities at work, at home, at school, etc. Since we only have one life, we
should only have one planner. Both business and personal activities should be
scheduled in the same planner so business activities don’t take precedence over
personal and family activities.
Myth - 8: Procrastination is always bad.
It is quite common to try to avoid doing activities that we do not enjoy, we are not
comfortable doing, we feel are boring, or for which we believe we are not particularly
well suited. Psychologists have studied procrastination for decades and have
discovered what they believe to be some of the root causes for delay or avoidance of
tasks. But, regardless of the psychology behind this habit, putting off tasks, for any
reason, can be costly. Even small amounts of procrastination can keep us from
achieving critical goals, meeting deadlines, or living our lives to the fullest. And, as a
result, procrastination can negatively impact the success of our businesses, and our
lives. So, procrastination can, indeed, be an extremely counterproductive habit if we
are putting off doing the things that we should be doing; especially if it is the
avoidance of the select group of tasks, which effectively lead to attaining our long-
rang goals. However, there are times when the strategy of ‘Selective Procrastination’
can be an asset to our time management agenda.
Myth - 9: Other people seem to have more time to get things done than I do.
Everyone has the same 24 hours (1,440 minutes or 86,400 seconds) available every
day - no more and no less. It’s just that some people are more proficient at using their
time than others. And, typically, those individuals who effectively manage their use of
time are more successful at everything else, as well. That’s because they have
developed strategies for getting the most important things done first.
Myth - 10: Multitasking abilities help get more accomplished in less time.
Recent research has shown that multitasking in more intense environments, where
critical outcomes are at stake, can seriously inhibit our ability to learn new skills,
slows the processing of information, reduces productivity and usually degrades the
overall quality of results we achieve. Obviously, there are times when focusing on a
singular task is not always possible. But, to the degree we can control our use of
multitasking, it is best to keep it to a minimum. Stop thinking of multitasking as a
positive endeavor, and discover the true benefits of focused, incremental work
strategies. You will actually become more productive and effective in the long run.
Myths About Stress and Time Management

Myth # 1: All stress is bad. No, there’s good and bad stress. Good stress is
excitement, thrills, etc. The goal is to recognize personal signs of bad stress and deal
with them.
Myth # 2: Planning my time just takes more time. Actually, research shows the
opposite.
Myth # 3: I get more done in more time when I wisely use caffeine, sugar, alcohol or
nicotine. Wrong! Research shows that the body always has to ‘come down’ and when
it does, you can’t always be very effective then after the boost.
Myth # 4: A time management problem means that there’s not enough time to get
done what needs to get done. No, a time management problem is not using your time
to your fullest advantage, to get done what you want done.
Myth # 5: The busier I am, the better I’m using my time. Look out! You may only be
doing what’s urgent, and not what’s important.
Myth # 6: I feel very harried, busy, so I must have a time management problem. Not
necessarily. You should verify that you have a time management problem. This
requires knowing what you really want to get done and if it is getting done or not.
Myth # 7: I feel OK, so I must not be stressed. In reality, many adults don’t even
know when they’re really stressed out until their bodies tell them so. They miss the
early warning signs from their body, for example, headaches, still backs, twitches, etc.
Myth # 8: Time management involves getting more done in less time. Some people
may believe that, but effective time management refers to doing fewer things of
greater importance. We cannot possibly do everything we want to do, or all the things
there are to do. But if we prioritize what there is to do, and focus on completing the
priorities to the exclusion of everything else, we will be more effective.
Myth # 9: A ‘quiet hour’ is a great time management tool. A ‘quiet hour’ is a figment
of time management writers’ imaginations. There is no such thing as a ‘quiet hour’.
We can reduce interruptions, but never eliminate them. To be effective, we must learn
to work in spite of the interruptions. Frequently, interruptions are not time wasters,
but opportunities arriving at inopportune times.
Myth # 10: Today’s technology improves time management abilities. Technology has
definitely made it more ‘convenient’ to transfer and access information. But, the
reality is that it has generated information overload, more than it has helped us
manage our time. Technology has also changed our perspective on just how
‘available’ we feel we should be. And, as a result, many of us have allowed ourselves
to be positioned in a constant state of ‘readiness’ - anxiously awaiting the next piece
of information or digital communication that comes our way - so we can immediately
respond. More often we have become slaves of the technology; whereby cellular calls,
text and email, for example, all too often end up controlling us - rather than us
controlling them.
Wise Principles of Good Stress and Time Management
 Learn your signs for being overstressed or having a time management problem.
Ask your friends about you. Perhaps they can tell you what they see from you
when you’re overstressed.
 Most people feel that they are stressed and/or have a time management problem.
Verify that you really have a problem. What do you see, hear or feel that leads
you to conclude that you have a time or stress problem?
 Don’t have the illusion that doing more will make you happier. Is it quantity of
time that you want, or quality?
 Stress and time management problems have many causes and usually require
more than one technique to fix. You don’t need a lot of techniques, usually more
than one, but not a lot.
 One of the major benefits of doing time planning is feeling that you’re in control.
 Focus on results, not on busyness.
References
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978-984-8798-22-5, Banglabazar, Dhaka-1100.
Kabir, S.M.S. (2016). Basic Guidelines for Research: An Introductory Approach for
All Disciplines. Book Zone Publication, ISBN: 978-984-33-9565-8,
Chittagong-4203, Bangladesh.
Kabir, S.M.S., Mostafa, M.R., Chowdhury, A.H., & Salim, M.A.A. (2016).
Bangladesher Samajtattwa (Sociology of Bangladesh). Protik Publisher,

ISBN: 978-984-8794-69-2, Dhaka-1100.
Kabir, S.M.S. (2018). Psychological health challenges of the hill-tracts region for
climate change in Bangladesh. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, Elsevier,34, 74–
77.
Kabir, S.M.S., Aziz, M.A., & Jahan, A.K.M.S. (2018). Women Empowerment and
Governance in Bangladesh. ANTYAJAA: Indian journal of Women and Social
Change, SAGE Publications India Pvt. Ltd, 3(1), 1-12.
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Bangladesh Context. International Journal of Scientific and Research
Publications, 5(8), 1-4, ISSN 2250-3153, www.ijsrp.org.
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Emotion, Social, Communication, Sensory Deficiency of Autistic Children.
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2321-3698.
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of Life and Earth Sciences, 3(1&2),127-135.
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STRESS AND TIME MANAGEMENT

Chapter · March 2017

Syed Muhammad Sajjad Kabir

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STRESS AND TIME MANAGEMENT

 Social Stressors - examples include financial problems, work demands, family

What Does Stress Do

How Can Stress Management Counseling Help

How Do You Measure Your Stress Level?

Coping with Stress

Stress Management Strategy (SMS)

perspective. Rather than fuming about a traffic jam, look at it as an opportunity to

setting yourself up for failure by demanding perfection. Set reasonable standards

How Can Avoid Stress

great way to get started.

someone you trust.

that helps others can be a great stress reliever.

relaxation exercises, massage, aromatherapy, yoga, or relaxing exercises.

Stress Management Techniques

Proven Tips for Stress Relief

7. Practice preventive maintenance. Your car, appliances, home, and relationships

34. Learn to live one day at a time.

Labeling: Labeling is similar to overgeneralization. It can take the form of making

Shoulding: ‘Shoulding yourself’ is criticizing yourself by concentrating on all the

Personalization/ Blame: Personalization is when we take the blame for outcomes

All or None: All-or-nothing thinking is the same as saying, ‘Everything is black or

You Are What You Think

 Ideas, feelings, beliefs, ways of thinking, attitudes, opinions, biases, prejudices or

 Outmoded, unproductive, unrealistic expectations exacted on ourselves and/or

 Gain clarity, purpose and intention in addressing our current problems.

 Does this belief protect you and your rights as a person?

options in the middle type of belief?

 What in reality supports the lack of absolute truth in this belief?

How to Manage Time

 Establish a Timetable: Schedule fixed commitments e.g. lectures, tutorials, sports

 Make a List: A common time-management mistake is trying to remember too

Tools for Time Management Counseling

a means in which we can evaluate our progress;

not, you at least put 10 minutes into that task.

Tips to Improve Time Management Skills

Benefits of Time Management

STRESS AND TIME MANAGEMENT MYTHS

common myths and misconceptions about effective time management cause us to go

Myths About Stress and Time Management

Bangladesher Samajtattwa (Sociology of Bangladesh). Protik Publisher,

Journal of Psychology, 32, 9-20.

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