In the weeks leading up to a holiday or vacation, many of us set internal goals to get our projects completed before we leave, which can cause undue stress on ourselves and others. In the seasonal business of construction, we experience this rush during the summer holidays and the winter holidays – such as Thanksgiving and Christmas.
In more than one instance, a customer has told us: “I need to have all bids by the Friday before Christmas.” Then, after turning in our proposal, we follow up with a phone call only to find out that they are out of the office until January 2. When the customer returns from the holiday, they’re faced with a pile of tasks – and no time to look at our bid. (We all know the pressure on the first day back from vacation).
This philosophy doesn’t just apply to bids; it’s true in life. We hurry to get everything done and “off of our desk” before we leave for the weekend or holiday. The result, however, is that when we stress ourselves out to meet these goals, we unknowingly stress out others around us who may be affected by these goals. When we are rushed and frustrated, others are also rushed and frustrated. You’ve heard of the Domino Effect, right? Once the first one falls, it takes the others down with it. The end result may not be what you had hoped for and could be riddled with mistakes.
The next time you set goals or schedule projects and tasks, ask yourself: “What if I don’t get it done before the holiday? Will there be major repercussions? Will anybody else be adversely affected by this? Would I want somebody to do this to me?” Properly balancing the workload will allow the right amount of time for tasks to be completed, which will ensure you can do the best job while minimizing the risk of mistakes. This will help prevent undue stress, which will benefit you and the overall wellness of those around you, not only at work but also at home.