Stress Kills

I had a good talk with Wendy last night that started with me trying to wiggle out of taking a week off in June. Things have been really busy at work--I'm hiring for an open position while helping to cover that position--and I was complaining yesterday that I'm in a hole I can't climb out of. She parroted back some of the advice I have given her over the years and we agreed on these resolutions:

1. I am going to stop adding fuel to the fire. A lot of people add things to my to-do list, but I'm the No. 1 offender. Remember my prime directive: Don't do anything that doesn't contribute to the bottom line.
   
2. Be realistic about what you can do in a day. By trying to do too much, I'm just repeatedly setting myself up for failure. Wendy said I should create a day today where I know I can easily accomplish everything by 2 p.m. If I hit that target, then I can start working on tomorrow's stuff.
   
3. I'm not always the right person for the job. I'm used to "wearing different hats" as one resume I read this week said, but I've got to stop wearing the hats I no longer need to wear. If something comes to me and it would be appropriate for someone else to do it, make sure they do it.
   
4. Learn how to better say no. The only fire drills out there should be when there's a vast amount of money at stake. Otherwise, it can wait or maybe it's not worth doing at all.
   
5. Check the perfection complex. I'm very self-concious, and I'm afraid of being perceived as dumb or sloppy. Too often I spend an inappropriate amount of time on things that I know will be viewed by my superiors. It's one thing to assume there's a God, but it's a whole different thing to assume there's a God who cares about you.