SENSIBLE MANAGER @WORK

English: A generic stress-strain curve showing true stress and strain. The red dot shows the fracture point. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I want to have a good job, do better, happy, healthy and stress free.

However, I keep watching with some jealousy when many of my colleagues are promoted to higher positions at much faster pace. One of them said to me that I am at the wrong department and having the wrong boss. I need to look out for better positions.

I like my job and what I am doing. I like being able to contribute directly to the company project developments and business expansion. On the other hand, I don't like the almost non-stop urgent matters, the expectation of 'just get it done and I don't care how you get it done', and the stress that come along with too many things in my head.

I think most us probably share the same challenge:

You notice that your health and your ability to think clearly, varies from day to day.

At some days, I have full energy to work on one task after another until the end of the day. At some other days, I feel like a headless chicken, doing tasks which are all urgent and important.

Your work load coming your way are hard to predict and you had keep too many 'stuff' in your head.

You decided to keep a list or even a GTD list but soon you are overwhelm with overdue dates.

You dread the year end performance appraisal with your boss.

You know you have been busy all years long. You know have done all that your boss ask you to do. You have done things which your boss had not asked you to do.
However, you also know that there have been problems that both you and even your boss had not expected, that is now a top priority and remain not solve.

I have experience these year after year and each year I made a resolution to overcome the challenges. Yet year after year, I saw myself not living to my own expectation. The solutions to the problem are clear, but it requires focus and knowing where to ask to ask for help. Otherwise, stress is the name of the game until retirement day.

The following is my manifesto 'for a stress free tomorrow', that I like to adopt for the rest of 2013 and after reaching the age of 48 not too long ago: