The impact of stress on motivation
First of all let me say this:
What may stress you, may not stress your neighbour, and depending on your state of mind and body (yes they are related in the stress stakes) will also make a difference on your daily stress levels, and consequently your motivation and ability to get things done.
I'd also like to point out at this point, the information that follows is general in nature and I would advise you to seek professional help if you think you need to.
So! What is stress and how can you deal with it?
According to the Oxford English Dictionary that sits on my desk the definition of stress is "Effort, demand upon physical or mental effort"
Which is all very well, but that doesn't really help define what it really is and how it affects us. So I prefer to use what I term "body indicators of stress".
I know I am stressed when:
- My left eye twitches
- I get migraines on a regular basis (mine tend to be caused by muscle tension in my neck and shoulders)
- I chew my nails
- I chew my lower lip
These are my indicators that all is not well in my psychological world and I need to do something about the underlying issues that are causing the stressors.
For other people, body indicators includes (but are not limited to):
- Smoking and drinking too much
- Failure to go to sleep, or cannot stay asleep
- Increased levels of adrenaline (you can feel your heart racing)
- Failure to concentrate on what you are doing
- Cannot find things
- Easily angered or annoyed
- Loss of libido
- Eating patterns change
If you identify with a couple of the above body indicators chances are going to be good you are feeling a little overwhelmed by something, or have felt that way in the past, and consequently may be (or have been) stressed.
But how do you begin to deal with stress? Personally you can't begin to un-stress I.E. relax, until you understand and identify what may be causing the stressors, so:
The following suggestions may help you identify and then deal with the problems of stress and their symptoms.
- The first thing you need to do is acknowledge the fact that you might be stressed. A lot of people can't or won't. Be honest with yourself.
- You need some time alone and with a notebook and pen and write down everything that is bothering you. Bear in mind no-one but you will see this (unless you choose to show it). If you are honest you will begin to see patterns showing up. Some of the common ones are: Money, Family, Love life, Home life and Job security.
- Determine your patterns of stressors
- Determine what your triggers are.
Triggers are interesting. You may not realise they are triggers until you do this part of the exercise. When do you start feeling stressed? Is it after a certain phone call with a certain person? Or after a run-in with someone at work? Are you feeling put upon at work? Are you feeling guilty because you didn't do something? Are you avoiding doing something - eg., paying your bills, avoiding your suppliers phone calls, immersing yourself in tasks that don't need to be done?
One thing I will say now - are you worrying over things you have no control over?
Go through your list of stressors and triggers and highlight them. If they are out of our control, i have to ask - why are we worried about them? What is the point of worrying about the weather or what someone else is thinking. We can't, all we can do (IMO) is to focus on those things we can control.
- We can control our spending
- We can control what we eat, drink and otherwise consume
- We can control what shape our body is in
- We can control what we say and how we say it
- We can control what we do and how we do it - granted sometimes it takes us a moment to realise we can say "no" to stupid and excessive demands on our time. For example, if you have been asked to take on yet another job at work, you need to go back to your boss with the question. Which task is the more important? What do you want me NOT to do whilst I focus now on what you want me to? "I might be great at multi-tasking, but miracles are in short supply today." After all they may not realise their expectations are too high.
This entire process can and does take time to go through, but it is important that you do - because failing to deal with your stressors and triggers has a direct impact on what you can and do achieve, your motivation and why we spend so much time procrastinating over things.
Of course, once you have identified these things, it is entirely up to you whether you deal with them or not. Only you can change you after all, all I can hope to do is make you question what you are doing and why you are doing it.
There are as many ways to overcome stress as there are days in a year and each one will be as individual to you as are your personal stressors. You may find a nightly walk will help, or chamomile tea, a bar of chocolate, playing with the kids, listening to music or reading a book. The point is, you can't truly relax until you have acknowledged and determined whether you can deal with, cope with or eliminate your personal stressors and triggers.
This is such a big topic and one at the core of motivation and overcoming procrastination, so we will return to the topic. But in the meantime if you would like to add your comments, suggestions and hints then please go to -
July 27, 2009 at 18:39
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