I've noticed myself getting increasingly stressed and jumpy at work. My workload has increased recently and while I would normally be able to cope, instead I seem to be struggling to stay on top of everything. The emails pile up along with the requests from colleagues and I seem to exist in a state of disorganised chaos. I want to nip this in the bud so what stress-relieving tips would you suggest? AM, Dubai
I think the first positive aspect of the situation is that you have noticed yourself getting increasingly stressed at work and have picked up on a change in your behaviour and overall manner. Unfortunately, we usually find people only notice the signs of stress when these become a real physical or emotional issue. So it is a testament that you have spotted the signs early.
I understand you are connecting this stress with an increase in workload, but feel that normally you would be able to cope. So my first question to you is whether this sudden increase in workload has come as a surprise or has it been increasing slowly without you fully taking the time to notice. We often have this blinkered view that we can increase the demands we place upon ourselves, without realising the cumulative effect it will have upon us. Sometimes we suffer from “Superman Syndrome” thinking we can cope with anything. It is almost like we increase the weight and burden on ourselves, without doing anything to increase our own capacity to manage or cope with the situation.
First of all, this situation is temporary and only a sign that at the moment you are not currently at your best. You seeking advice on managing stress is you beginning to take control of the situation.
My second question is whether there are things in your broader life that are having an effect on your ability to manage your work. Was 2014 a particularly challenging year, have a lot of things changed or are you feeling the effect of cumulative events? For example, do you think your work and life in general has become busier without you doing much to manage this?
Firstly, I would suggest that continuing to fight fires and responding to emails and colleagues may seem useful in the short term (making you feel better) but it may just be masking dealing with the true problem at hand.
In terms of stress-relieving tips, I think the first thing we always suggest is to get some perspective and think about what is really important for you and try to connect back to your purpose. If you feel that your work gives you a real purpose, then how much of what you are currently doing supports that. Otherwise, if your purpose is elsewhere (ie; family) then how much of an effect does this stress and tension have on your family life and is it really worth it?
Secondly, we often are preoccupied with challenges, stresses and things we generally do not want to do, but how much time do you spend doing something that you really want to do? We often describe managers and leaders needing a healthy dose of selfishness. How much time in the week do you spend serving your boss, team, organisation, family or society? How much time do you spend doing something you really enjoy, that will bring you real personal satisfaction? This could be three hours a week of exercise, or attending a book club or making sure you and your partner go for dinner once a week. This positive action, is time you need to rigorously protect, even when you are busy and feeling depleted. A precious and valued experience once a week or more, will have significant effect on recharging your mental and physical battery.
You now need to put some small steps in place and pay attention to yourself and whether you are becoming less jumpy at work. I would also actively seek some feedback and give people around you permission to mention if they notice this change happening again.
Doctor’s prescription:
It won’t take much to get you back on track and remember as demands increase around you, you need to be proactive in increasing your capacity to cope, so the scales do not tip over again!
Alex Davda is a business psychologist and consultant at Ashridge Business School based in the Middle East.
Roger Delves will return next week
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MATCH DETAILS
Juventus 2 (Bonucci 36, Ronaldo 90 6)
Genoa 1 (Kouame 40)
Pearls on a Branch: Oral Tales
Najlaa Khoury, Archipelago Books
Bridgerton%20season%20three%20-%20part%20one
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
What is a Ponzi scheme?
A fraudulent investment operation where the scammer provides fake reports and generates returns for old investors through money paid by new investors, rather than through ligitimate business activities.
Company%20profile
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F1 drivers' standings
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes 281
2. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 247
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes 222
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull 177
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 138
6. Max Verstappen, Red Bull 93
7. Sergio Perez, Force India 86
8. Esteban Ocon, Force India 56
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
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Three trading apps to try
Sharad Nair recommends three investment apps for UAE residents:
- For beginners or people who want to start investing with limited capital, Mr Nair suggests eToro. “The low fees and low minimum balance requirements make the platform more accessible,” he says. “The user interface is straightforward to understand and operate, while its social element may help ease beginners into the idea of investing money by looking to a virtual community.”
- If you’re an experienced investor, and have $10,000 or more to invest, consider Saxo Bank. “Saxo Bank offers a more comprehensive trading platform with advanced features and insight for more experienced users. It offers a more personalised approach to opening and operating an account on their platform,” he says.
- Finally, StashAway could work for those who want a hands-off approach to their investing. “It removes one of the biggest challenges for novice traders: picking the securities in their portfolio,” Mr Nair says. “A goal-based approach or view towards investing can help motivate residents who may usually shy away from investment platforms.”
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City, Tuesday, 11pm (UAE)
Matches can be watched on BeIN Sports
ETFs explained
Exhchange traded funds are bought and sold like shares, but operate as index-tracking funds, passively following their chosen indices, such as the S&P 500, FTSE 100 and the FTSE All World, plus a vast range of smaller exchanges and commodities, such as gold, silver, copper sugar, coffee and oil.
ETFs have zero upfront fees and annual charges as low as 0.07 per cent a year, which means you get to keep more of your returns, as actively managed funds can charge as much as 1.5 per cent a year.
There are thousands to choose from, with the five biggest providers BlackRock’s iShares range, Vanguard, State Street Global Advisors SPDR ETFs, Deutsche Bank AWM X-trackers and Invesco PowerShares.
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Monster
Directed by: Anthony Mandler
Starring: Kelvin Harrison Jr., John David Washington
3/5
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
Tips for taking the metro
- set out well ahead of time
- make sure you have at least Dh15 on you Nol card, as there could be big queues for top-up machines
- enter the right cabin. The train may be too busy to move between carriages once you're on
- don't carry too much luggage and tuck it under a seat to make room for fellow passengers
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Three ways to limit your social media use
Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.
1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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Federer's 19 grand slam titles
Australian Open (5 titles) - 2004 bt Marat Safin; 2006 bt Marcos Baghdatis; 2007 bt Fernando Gonzalez; 2010 bt Andy Murray; 2017 bt Rafael Nadal
French Open (1 title) - 2009 bt Robin Soderling
Wimbledon (8 titles) - 2003 bt Mark Philippoussis; 2004 bt Andy Roddick; 2005 bt Andy Roddick; 2006 bt Rafael Nadal; 2007 bt Rafael Nadal; 2009 bt Andy Roddick; 2012 bt Andy Murray; 2017 bt Marin Cilic
US Open (5 titles) - 2004 bt Lleyton Hewitt; 2005 bt Andre Agassi; 2006 bt Andy Roddick; 2007 bt Novak Djokovic; 2008 bt Andy Murray