How To Focus Instead Of Flounder

     People have various reactions to stress and tough times. This was dramatically demonstrated recently on a plane from Dallas to Atlanta. As it started heading out the pilot shut down the plane announcing that there was bad weather in Atlanta and the plane was going to be grounded for some time.

     Passengers grumbled because the plane was extremely hot with hot air blowing through the vents. After three hours the pilot announced, "Shut down your phones we have to go NOW or we will miss our chance." After 15 minutes -- and the plane wasn't moving --  a flight attendant started yelling at a passenger to turn off his cell phone. This man was refusing to get off his call. The flight attendant yelled more loudly and he closed his phone.

     After a sarcastic "Thank you," the flight attendant started down the aisle. At this point the passenger next to this person yelled, "He's making another call!" In a blur the flight attendant ran down the aisle grabbed his cell phone out of his hand and started walking away.

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TOP SHELF TIP NO. 143

"Stress is when you wake up screaming and you realize you haven't fallen asleep yet."

Anonymous

     The passenger jumped out of his seat, grabbed the flight attendant and yanked back his phone. So it just went from someone being annoying to a possible Federal offense. The crew got together to make a decision, "Do we go back to the gate and have him arrested here or do we fly with this guy to Atlanta and have him arrested there?" They then surrounded the customer with eight of the biggest guys on the plane and took off. Well this guy continued whine and hit his call button the entire flight.

     After he was arrested we found out he was not drunk or on drugs. He was simply mad about the three hours in the heat and was going to ground that plane "no matter what:"

     So what is the moral of the story? Many people don't respond well to stress and their reaction often hurts them instead of helps them.

Keys To Focusing In Difficult Times

     Times are challenging and the normal responses to this level of difficulty -- stress and chaos -- include confusion, distraction and loss of focus. Those that can get their head in the game, however, can find opportunities that others will miss.

     Today and tomorrow Promotional Consultant Today will look at three concrete defensive or offensive strategies to deal with distractions and stress and to help you focus on actions that will get you results. Today we will focus on the first strategy, The Worry Chair. Tomorrow we'll look at two more.

The Worry Chair

     One common conditioning technique used by counselors is the worry chair strategy. It is especially useful for those who have trouble falling asleep because they are ruminating about their day. You can use it at home or work, but we will use the example of someone with insomnia to demonstrate the process.

·         Set up a specific chair in your house that is designated as the worry chair.

·         If you are worrying about things and unable to sleep for more than 10 minutes, then get out of your bed and go sit in the worry chair.

·         Allow yourself to worry all you want when you are in the chair. Take each worry to its conclusion before you move to the next worry.

·         Stay in the chair as long as you need to (until you are finished worrying.)

·         Return to bed.

·         If you start worrying again then go to your chair and repeat the process. Do not allow yourself to worry in any other spot in the house (or office if you do the process there.)

·         You can add journaling to your worry time if that is helpful for you.

     While this technique may be strange, it is a method to condition your worry to that chair instead of your bed, office chair or anywhere else. It puts you in control of the worry rather than having the worry control you. Lack of sleep will kill your focus so don't allow it to go on too long.

     Source: Dr. Tim Ursiny is the founder of Advantage Coaching & Training. He trains and coaches individuals and teams in areas such as stress management, conflict resolution, dealing with change and building client loyalty. He is the author of several books including The Confidence Plan, Tough Times Tactics and The Top Performer's Guide to Attitude.