Unit 2 – Manage Your Time and Stress

September 2011

AGENDA

•Discuss class items and reminders•Review the objectives•Talk about time and stress management

- How are they correlated?

•Discuss Brent case•Review the week assignments•Q&A Session

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QUESTIONS FOR ME?

•How did it go this past week?•Anything you was to ask or comment on?•Is there anything about the course system that is still not clear?

•Let me know!

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Unit 2 Objectives

•Plan, organize and prioritize your school-related activities by assessing your time management skills and setting goals

•Analyze what causes stress, how time and stress management are connected and what you can do to manage stress effectively.

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HELLO EVERYBODY!

•We’re going to start seminar by asking you to share something good that happened this week!

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WORDS OF A GREAT MAN!

•If there is any one secret of success, it lies in the ability to get the other person’s point of view and see things from that person's angle as well as your own.

-Henry Ford

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DEFINITION OF STRESS?To you, what is the….

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AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF STRESS

• Stress is difficult for scientists to define because it is a subjective sensation associated with varied symptoms that differ for each of us. In addition, stress is not always a synonym for distress. Situations like a steep roller coaster ride that cause fear and anxiety for some can prove highly pleasurable for others. Winning a race or election may be more stressful than losing but this is good stress.

• Increased stress increases productivity – up to a point, after which things rapidly deteriorate, and that level also differs for each of us. It’s much like the stress or tension on a violin string. Not enough produces a dull raspy sound and too much an irritating screech or snaps the string – but just the correct degree of stress creates a beautiful tone.

• Similarly, we all have to find the right amount of stress that permits us to make pleasant music in our daily lives. You can learn how to utilize and transform stress so that it will make you more productive and less self-destructive.

- Dr. Paul Rosch, MD

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MANAGING STRESS EFFECTIVELY

•Did you know that learned ability to manage stress by using your critical thinking skills?

-Step One: Recognize Stress-Step Two: Analyze It

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LIMBIC SYSTEM (AMYGDALA)

•The amygdala reacts first to threats to safety and survival. This is STRESS.

- Stress affects the amygdala and learning

- Negative experiences are recalled too easily and impede learning

•Strive for low stress!•When all is well, the being feels good and learning and creativity are enhanced…

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Image of brain from Prentice Hall. For more information, click here.

THINK THROUGH STRESS

•Be aware that stress is in your life.- We must have some stress as it motivates us to grow and change

•The wrong kind of stress can be debilitating.- It slows us down

- Makes us sick

- Makes it hard to live

•Even I don’t like ME when I know I am controlled by stress!!!

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WHAT CAN YOU DO TO REDUCE STRESS?

•In your reading, you came across TIPS fro reducing stress.

-Learn to say NO, sorry, not now, go…-Complete tasks right away-Get rid of unnecessary “stuff”-Save some time for you-Ask for help when you need it-Avoid guilt trip

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HOW DO YOU MANAGE YOUR STRESS

•Besides school, what other responsibilities fill our days?

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HOW DO YOU MANAGE YOUR STRESS

•Besides school, what other responsibilities fill our days?•How do you keep it all together?

- To do Lists and Organized Planning

- How do you use a to do list?

- How often do you use a to do list?

- What you you say is the best thing about a to do list?

http://www.mindtools.com/prtodo.html

http://www.franklincovey.com

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THE KEYS FOR SUCCESSFUL PLANNING

•Be Realistic•Build in Extra Time for the Unexpected•Know Yourself•Chunk your Time•Dealing with the Demands of Others•Learning How to Say No•Using Unexpected Gifts of Time

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THE KEY FACTOR

•The key factor in effective time management is keep organized. Being organized simply means keeping your goals in mind and planning your activities to make them a reality.

•For many people this needs to be visual on paper or on computer

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GOOD STRESS VS BAD STRESS

•Do you know the difference between the two?-Why is stress important?

-When does it change roles and becomes debilitating?

-Can we control it?

-HOW???

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WHAT YOU NEED TO DO

•Become a Time Management Expert!•Pay attention to your Physical Health•Develop Relaxation Skills

- http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/time-management/WL00048

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CASE STUDY UNIT 2

•Brent is a full-time manager and is married with 2 kids. He just returned to college after 5 years. He works 8-10 hours a day, is actively involved in his kids’ lives. He is overwhelmed, tired, easily upset, etc., etc., etc.

- What are his sources of stress?

- What is the connection between stress management and time management?

- How important is a support structure in this individual case study?

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NOW YOU HAVE SOME PLANNING TO DO!

•Where are YOU going to begin?•Are you already a great time manager?•Are already in control of stress?•What are yours tips for us?•How does this unit “sit” with you?

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ASSIGNMENTS

•Reading and Overview•Discussions

- Remember initial discussion by Saturday- Respond to two or more over several days

•Assignments- Using template, read directions and plan out planner

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THANK YOU FOR A WONDERFUL EVENING!

Anyone have any questions?

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