Beat the Clock - Please!
In October, Robert Hruzek asks, what have we learned from stress? Usually, Robert’s group project theme leaves me scratching my head for hours trying to come up with a meaningful response. This month, however, there’s no problem.
What I learned from stress is that for me, stress equals time. I don’t like tight deadlines, cramming for a test, rushing to the airport to catch a flight, or running late for an appointment. For some people, public speaking or being trapped in an elevator causes enormous stress. For me, it’s showing up fifteen minutes late for a sales call.
Having dealt with this punctuality foible pretty much all my life, I’ve learned to cope pretty well. For the most part, my coping mechanisms have made me a better business person, but perhaps not so easy to live with.
Time management is key. I try very hard to give myself plenty of time to complete projects, which is pretty tricky for copywriting work, because you can’t time creativity. I admire people who can pump out first rate material under the gun. But I’d rather work into the wee hours and complete a project way ahead of time than have things come down to the wire.
I’ll arrange to arrive at the airport two hours or more ahead of departure time. I’m seldom more relaxed than being at the airport, checked through security, comfortably ahead of my flight. If the flight is delayed, I’m still happy. This causes trouble at times, because my wife is just the opposite - killing time, especially for no good reason, really stresses her out. Lately we’ve gotten better at splitting the difference on travel timing, but if you know how to resolve this kind of conflict, hey, please let me know!
Another thing I’ve learned from time stress is how to make use of extra time. When I’m at the airport with an hour or two to spare, I like to work on future blog topics, for instance, or new ideas for my business. It’s possible to turn waiting into very productive time, but it takes discipline. I keep a list of projects to work on and ideas to develop with me at all times, so I can spend my extra time thinking, instead of thinking about what to think about - you know what I mean?
Finally, I’ve learned that my time stress is irrational. The world won’t end if I’m late for a meeting or miss a flight. Reminding myself of that in the heat of battle may reduce the stress, but I’m not sure. It does make me wonder - generally speaking, is stress an irrational reaction? Can we think our way rid of it?
Maybe you and I can introduce UK slang to Chicago. Brad...
I’m very much like you when it comes to airports and flying, Brad - I like to arrive with plenty of time for possible delays in security, etc. But I usually use the time to really relax with a good, thick book with a complex plotline. Or, I’ll spend time in the food courts observing, you know, the goings-on. Plenty of good blog fodder there.
And Mrs. MZM is similar to Mrs. Word Sell, too. But I came across one solution to the differences in “spousal timing”, if you get my drift, and it was quite by accident. See, Mrs. MZM decided she wanted us to get one of those little Nintendo DS thingies and start playing that “Brain Age” game to help keep our minds sharp. You’ve heard of it, right?
Well, at first I was doubtful - Mrs. MZM is about as technophobic as they come. But nowadays, whenever she has a spare moment or two, she’ll whip that game out and be happy as a clam, I’ll tell ya! Maybe that would work for Mrs. Word Sell? Just an idea.
Robert, Thanks for the suggestion. Mrs. Word Sell is indeed a bit of a technophobe, but if it works for Mrs. MZM, well, why not give it a try? Although if the game makes her mind sharper, that might backfire on me …
Brad Shorrs last blog post..Beat the Clock - Please!
You know; I never thought of that one, Brad! Guess I should be the one using the game!
(Notice my clever ploy to try to get your CommentLuv plugin to work for me…)
*sigh* Story of my life…
Robert, Your game is deep!
Brad Shorrs last blog post..Beat the Clock - Please!
If you’d like a tool for managing your time and projects, you can use this application inspired by David Allen’s GTD:
http://www.Gtdagenda.com
You can use it to manage and prioritize your goals, projects and tasks, set next actions and contexts, use checklists, schedules and a calendar.
A mobile version and iCal are available too.
Hi Dan, Thanks - this looks excellent. I’ve seen a few of these but this is a new one. I’ll definitely check it out!
Brad Shorrs last blog post..Beat the Clock - Please!
Brad, I like to get to the airport too. I don’t like airports, but I just can’t settle until I’ve got checked in and got shot of my luggage. Travelling on your own makes it easier to manage this form of time stress - I have travelled with a friend who was extremely anxious about flying and to minimise stress wanted to check in with about 1 minute to spare. Whichever way we did it one of us got stressed… and neither of us could really understand the other’s point of view.
I think historically stress has been rational - getting our adrenaline to kick in so we can get out of threatening situations fast. Whether it’s still helping us or not… well I’m looking forward to reading the results of this project to try and find out more.
Joanna Youngs last blog post..5 Great Quotes on (Writing with) Responsibility
I wonder what Mrs MZM and Mrs Word Sell are making of this conversation?!
Robert, re the comment luv, have you checked the precise format you’ve used to register your blog with them. I realised that mine wasn’t working when I add www on to the address in comment boxes, only when I make sure I type the lean mean version without it.
By the way I do like the new feature which allows us to chose which post to show off.
Joanna Youngs last blog post..10 More Insights Into Writing With Respect
Hi Joanna, Definitely, traveling with a companion with a different sense of time is stressful. I remember making some business trips with a colleague who had the same sense of time, and we had a great time. Stress is rational in the sense of alerting us to fear, but my stress about time doesn’t connect to a fear, at least not that I can see. Maybe I need therapy …
Brad Shorrs last blog post..Beat the Clock - Please!
Joanna - urgh?
OK, I registered with CommentLuv (didn’t know that was something you did) and now I’m back and wonder of wonders - I can see it working down there! Hey; learn something new every day and it keeps the apples away. Or is it that apples keep doctors away? Oh, well.
Does the plugin work that way at the Zone? Hmmm… maybe I have an older version… better check it out.
Robert Hruzeks last blog post..What I Learned From… Stress
Robert, I think it is to do with the version you have. Current version offers more features but does seem to be a bit more complex too.
Joanna Youngs last blog post..Blog Action Day 08 is Coming Up
Time management you say…and here I am commenting on blogs instead of working.
Paunchinesss last blog post..Oh Thank Heaven. Obama vs. McCain at 7-Eleven
Brad,
I had to smile while reading your story. It is the same with me - I like to arrive always earlier than the exact date - be it trains departing, planes, appointments, meetings. I always try to have a buffer - so I arrive relatively relaxed.
Regarding GTD tools, I am working with http://www.todoist.com. It is relatively simple, web-based and free. Took me some time before I found it (I am afraid that I like to play around with tools!), and I am sticking to it.
Ulla Hennigs last blog post..The Art of Saying “No!”
Hi Paunchiness, Sorry to disrupt your day, but work is over rated, isn’t it?
Ulla, Another great tip on Web based org tools. Appreciate it! Do you know how well it integrates with Gmail? It’s good to know we have similar travel habits … maybe one day we’ll actually meet somewhere.
Brad Shorrs last blog post..Beat the Clock - Please!
Hi Brad - I think stress is a necessary evil to some degree. Without it, we’d probably struggle to motivate ourselves. But when it get’s too much - I’ve learned that I’d rather go into hiberation until it’s all gone away.
Cath, Good idea … Hibernating sounds good right now - cold and rainy.
Brad Shorrs last blog post..Beat the Clock - Please!
We used to always get to airport early. I would always bring something to “work” on…that’s always the first thing I pack. Now my husband refuses to fly and we have the luxury of being able to just say no.
Jean Browman–Cheerful Monks last blog post..Creating a Sacred Space
PS About time management…I keep my life simple enough that I don’t have To Do lists…I have Possibility Lists. If something needs to be done the pressure mounts until it’s clearly the best use of my time.
My time-management system is Alan Lakein’s question: What’s the best use of my time right now. The answer isn’t always what other people would can being productive…I’m more interested in living deeply, which means uncluttering my time.
Jean Browman–Cheerful Monks last blog post..Creating a Sacred Space
Jean, It’s great you can live by that philosophy. No matter how busy you are, I think it’s essential to focus and live in the moment. Otherwise you’re barely living at all, really.
Brad Shorrs last blog post..Beat the Clock - Please!
Now that’s interesting, Jean. Your time management technique and mine are actually very close in execution (sound of gunshot - oops, not that kind of execution!)
Nice to know that my way is actually a valid technique! Thought I was just, you know, whack.
Brad,
http://www.todoist.com can be integrated into Gmail. They explain it on their webpage. I haven’t tried that out yet.
Ulla Hennigs last blog post..The Art of Saying “No!”
[…] Beat the Clock - Please! […]
At the airport, like Joanna, I like to get rid of the luggage so that I can relax, buy Vanity Fair and find a seat with a cuppa. But many of my most stressful recent incidents have been when my flight is delayed. So I have read everything I want to read in the mag, made calls from the only area of the terminal that has signal, drunk way too much caffeine… and now starting to get wound up again.
My own post on this topic leaves me to think about accepting what I can’t change. Sometimes I surprise myself with my wisdom! Now how about practising what I preach?
Jackie Camerons last blog post..Have you ever sent an e-mail and then regretted it?
Jackie, Airport delays never bother me - guess I’m lucky that way. What might cure you (or kill you) is driving in rush hour traffic around Chicago. Talk about stress!
Brad Shorrs last blog post..Eye Popping Marketing Insights from Scrambled Toast
It seems I’m a bad case of you and your wife. Well, not literally, of course. I’m often late, which stresses me out, but I find the “extra” time I get from having to wait i.e. for the next train, useful as long as I have a piece of paper or my phone - to record memos on - around.
Lasse, Hi! It’s amazing how a little piece of paper and a pen can relieve stress. I know exactly what you mean.
Brad Shorrs last blog post..Eye Popping Marketing Insights from Scrambled Toast
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I arrive early for everything. I call it absorbing my space. It’s something I require so that I can be fully available/present to most situations. It can be a movie, a dr’s appt, it most definitely can be at the airport. To pass the time I adore people watching. A game my siblings and I played many a times while waiting at the airport for my pilot father to finish his bid. I have many friends who don’t understand I must be early attitude. I just have them meet me on their own time. In the end I feel calm, and they aren’t mad at me for making them be early!
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Hi Karen, People watching is a great way to pass time, especially airports, train stations. Our extended family is about a 50-50 split between “earlies” and “laties”, so I know exactly what you’re talking about. Every get together has a slight undercurrent of stress.
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