英語沙龍十年合集珍藏版第三輯The power of work stress
The power of work stress
What would you say when you are under work pressure，“stressed out and frantic1)”or“challenged and energized2)”？There's very little physiological difference between the two，says a growing contingent3) of experts who claim work stress has an upside．These experts believe that stress can strengthen you or tear you down．In most cases，you can choose．The following are ８ ways to perform better under pressure suggested by the experts．
Give stress a good name Why resent work stress－－it's an indicator that your career is advancing．Think of a heavy work load as an exciting opportunity to push yourself，learn new skills and show your mettle．Complaining depletes your energy；instead greet an overloaded4) day with optimism．Tell yourself，“This is a challenge I am capable of handling．”
Put it in perspective Sometimes it's impossible to talk about the positive side of stress－－say your computer crashes and you lose valuable work－－but you can moderate your reaction．Rate your distress on a scale of１to １０，１being mild irritation and １０extreme panic or anger．Now，rank the importance of the situation from １（a notice）to １０（you're fired）．If your distress ranks higher than the seriousness of the situation，ask yourself：Is this something I will remember in four years，four months，four days？Then downshift your response accordingly，saving your emotional energy for disasters．
Alternate tasks Blocking out an entire day or week for a high－priority project increases your anxiety without boosting your productivity－－in fact，you may lose perspective and focus．You need to create a rhythm to your work to recharge．Every ６０to ９０minutes，take a break from your primary activity and do something different for１５minutes．If you've been reading at your desk，walk into someone's office to brainstorm on another project．Don't worry about breaking your concentration．You'll return to your task refreshed and determined．
Shake a leg Regular exercise is critical to stress management，and mini workouts during the day can release pent－up5) energy．Most people tend to neglect some exercise which you can actually do everyday，such as walk to your or someone's office instead of taking the elevator；stand up and stretch your back and neck muscles while you are on the phone，and so on．
Straighten up your desk Rearranging pencils may not be a form of procrastination6) after all．It has been proved that tiding your desk is one of the most common，and effective，ways workers calm and focus themselves．Organizing helps people reduce tension and get into a productive frame of mind．
Refuel Tempted to skip meals and pull late nights when you feel the heat at work？Both could lead to burnout．Get six to eight hours of sleep，and go to bed at the same hour every night．Avoid bi g meals but munch high－carbon，low－fat snacks every few hours．Lay off the alcohol，which can disturb your sleep patterns．
Tackle your fears Pressure doesn't paralyze you，fear does．Often，your stress comes from worrying rather than from the work assignment or problem you're grappling with．Itemize every element of a project that has you scared．Are you worried about a presentation because you've never spoken in front of a group of people，you don't know what to wear and the slide projector isn't working correctly？Write down these fears and methodically address each one．
Spend time with your friends During high－pressure periods，don't lock yourself in a room with your work．Socializing with friends and colleagues，getting together with people who make you laugh and change your perspective，will revitalize and inspire you．You want positive social support，so offer your friends progress reports and ask them for feedback7)，solution and encouragement．
如何利用工作壓力
工作壓力之下你會(huì)怎么說？是“喘不過氣，忙亂不堪”還是“面對(duì)挑戰(zhàn)，干勁十足”？?jī)烧咧g的生理差別微乎其微，越來越多的專家如是認(rèn)為，他們聲稱工作壓力有其積極的作用。這些專家認(rèn)為，壓力可以使你更堅(jiān)強(qiáng)，也可以將你摧垮，在多數(shù)情況下你可以選擇。以下是專家建議的８種方法助你在壓力之下表現(xiàn)得更好。
為壓力正名 為什么怨恨壓力－－－－它實(shí)際是在表明你的事業(yè)有了進(jìn)展。應(yīng)視重任在身為難得的機(jī)會(huì)：推動(dòng)你前行，掌握新技能，表現(xiàn)自己的勇氣。抱怨會(huì)耗盡你的精力；應(yīng)以樂觀的態(tài)度迎接超負(fù)荷的每一天。告訴自己：“這是一個(gè)我有能力應(yīng)付的挑戰(zhàn)。”
要有分寸感 有時(shí)談壓力積極的一面是不可能的--比如說，你的電腦壞了，你丟失了重要資料---但你能夠控制你的反應(yīng)。將你的苦惱分為１至１０個(gè)等級(jí)，１級(jí)是輕度的急躁，而１０級(jí)是極度的慌亂或憤怒。然后再把局勢(shì)的嚴(yán)重性分成１級(jí)（得到一份通知）至１０級(jí)（你被解雇）。如果你對(duì)你的痛苦的打分高于你對(duì)局勢(shì)的嚴(yán)重性的打分，你該捫心自問：對(duì)這件事我４年后、４個(gè)月后或是４天后是否仍會(huì)耿耿于懷？然后相應(yīng)地將你對(duì)你自己的反應(yīng)的打分調(diào)低，從而將自己的情感能量留到日后去應(yīng)付災(zāi)難。
交替工作 整整一天乃至整整一周馬不停蹄地只忙于一件第一優(yōu)先的工作而別的什么都不干，只會(huì)加劇你的緊張情緒，而不能讓你多出活兒---事實(shí)上你很可能看不到各項(xiàng)工作之間的相互關(guān)系及焦點(diǎn)所在。你需要為自己的工作創(chuàng)造一種節(jié)奏以不斷給自己充電。每１小時(shí)至１個(gè)半小時(shí)后，就應(yīng)從主要工作中抽身出來放松一下，用１５分鐘做點(diǎn)別的什么事情。如果你一直伏案閱讀，就去另一同事的辦公室為另一計(jì)劃想些點(diǎn)子。不必?fù)?dān)心這樣會(huì)打斷你的注意力?；氐睫k公桌后你會(huì)感到精神煥發(fā)，干勁十足。
活動(dòng)活動(dòng) 經(jīng)常性的體育鍛煉對(duì)控制壓力十分重要，而每天點(diǎn)點(diǎn)滴滴的體育活動(dòng)也可以釋放被抑制的能量。大多數(shù)人往往忽視了那些實(shí)際上你每天都可以做的活動(dòng)，比如說，不乘電梯而是步行去自己或他人的辦公室；打電話時(shí)站起身來同時(shí)伸展一下背部和頸部肌肉，等等。
收拾整理辦公桌 重新安排文具用品也許并非什么浪費(fèi)時(shí)間之舉。業(yè)已證明整理辦公桌是工作人員用來鎮(zhèn)靜自己，集中精力的最普通最有效的方法之一。整理辦公桌之類的活動(dòng)能幫助你緩解緊張，并使你事半功倍。
加油 工作高壓使你想要廢寢忘食以擠出時(shí)間？這兩件事都只會(huì)使你精疲力竭。每天保證６至８小時(shí)的睡眠，且每晚同一時(shí)間就寢。避免大吃大喝，但每隔幾小時(shí)吃一些高碳水化合物低脂肪的食品。不要喝酒，那東西會(huì)攪亂你的睡眠規(guī)律。
克服恐懼 壓力不會(huì)使你癱瘓，但恐懼卻能把你壓垮。你的壓力常常源于憂慮而非你的工作任務(wù)或你正設(shè)法應(yīng)付的問題。詳細(xì)列出某一工作項(xiàng)目中令你緊張的每一細(xì)節(jié)。你擔(dān)心你的口頭報(bào)告是因?yàn)槟銖奈丛谝蝗喝嗣媲鞍l(fā)過言？你不知道該穿些什么？幻燈機(jī)無法正常工作？把這些擔(dān)憂寫下來并逐一予以解決。
花時(shí)間與朋友在一起 在壓力重重的日子里，不要把自己鎖起來埋頭苦干。和朋友、同事交往，與那些能讓你歡笑、能改變你看法的人聊一聊，那樣會(huì)使你恢復(fù)活力，信心倍增。你需要有力的外界支持，所以向你的朋友們談?wù)勀愕墓ぷ鬟M(jìn)展情況，征求他們的意見，尋求解決問題的辦法，尋求他們的鼓勵(lì)。
NOTE 注釋：
1. frantic [5frAntik] adj. 忙亂不堪的
2. energized [5enEdVaizd] adj. 有活力的，有干勁的
3. contingent [kEn5tindVEnt] n. 名額，部分
4. overloaded [5EuvE5lEudid] adj. 超負(fù)荷的
5. pent-up [pent5Qp] adj. 幽閉的, 被壓抑的
6. procrastination [prEu7krAsti5neiFEn] n. 延遲, 拖延
7. feedback [5fi:dbAk] n. 反饋
