How to survive the shift to management

Brian Thompson currently runs the Web Team at the Mindgrub Technologies digital agency. He’s been working with WordPress since he was a sysadmin managing WordPress website servers in 2011. He then moved to WordPress development in 2012 before he grew into his current management role. This developer to manager shift happened to Brian. And he came to WCUS to share valuable tools and tips on how to effectively lead a development team.

– Manager responsibilities in both good and bad times

– Building team relationships and soliciting good feedback

– Balancing technical development with team collaboration

– Delivering constructive feedback

For many developers, being promoted into a managerial role requires a drastic shift in mindset. While many programming paradigms do carry over to being a manager, there are plenty of other skills that most developers just need to “figure out.” – Brian Thompson

Managing developers is like white water rafting

Just like white water rafting, when taking on a lead engineer role, you need to use the proper equipment. Suddenly tasks and responsibilities start coming at you in all directions. From project managers to developers. You will need something like a task tracker to help organize it all.

Brian even admitted to using spreadsheets to collect all his employees information because he is a people manager now. He even created an escalation playbook which personally helps him decipher when and how to get involved when there’s an issue.

Going with the flow can be dangerous

While still on the rafting metaphor, before getting in the water, you will be told to go faster or slower than the water but not at the same speed as the water. This goes for management as well. You need to go faster than your projects or your people. Otherwise, if you’re just sitting back and letting the questions come to you – you are not leading, you are following.

As a manager you need to get used to not always being pointed forward and in the right direction. Sometimes it’s not smooth, you don;t always know where you’re going and may bump into things on occasion. Brian says he walks into situations with a plan or some knowledge, and at least the direction he wants to go in. Even if many things are unclear.

Don’t be afraid of bumps in the road

Sometimes you need to lean into the hazard to deal with it. As a manager, you need to give your team direction. Many times, not everyone needs to be on a project. A few people need to work harder than others. Sometimes it’s OK to allow some team members to have a breather.

You need to deal with adversity because things won’t always go well. You’re going to have bad days, but it’s always important to bounce back up. Every bad experience is a learning opportunity and you can always do better.

Saying NO

As a manager, say no is painful, but there are ways to make it easier. It helps to always give a reason. It helps your team understand. Don’t apologize for saying no, because saying sorry just diminishes your answer. It’s your decision to make, and they may not always agree or like it, but it’s not something to be sorry for if you deem it to be correct at the time.

Understandably this can be tricky and can range from rejecting requests on workflows and processes to salary raises. Sometimes you have to say no to a salary increase because performance is lacking. However you can always give a reason and maybe plan to help them get there.

Mentor vs Manager

Being a mentor to somebody should happen outside of management. Both parties needs to want mentorship. You can try dividing your team into those who need more of your guidance, for whatever reason, and those who may need less. Maybe they work more independently or are on a project which does not need any further involvement. You need to be realistic with how much time you can spend giving individual attention, especially if your team is larger.

Brian’s ultimate advice is to also have fun with it. Even if things aren’t always going your way, there is a lot of reward in leading a great web development team. Whether you’re new to management or simply want to improve your team’s performance, these tips are for you. Empower yourself to become the leader that your team needs and can count on.

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I served six years in the Air Force, where I was a Command Post Controller. The Command Post is the communications hub of the entire base. Basically, first responders report their information to us and we filter it for the Commander. Like other first responders, such as security forces, airfield operations, medical, and fire department, our shop was open 24/7/365. Holidays, nights, weekends, you name it, someone was there.

I met my husband, and several best friends, in a Command Post. It’s hard not to create a family out of the people you have to be in a small, confined space with for 12 hours a day, several days a week. We all had to learn how to deal with rotating shifts, how to miss family gatherings, and how to not lose our sanity. If you’re one of the chosen few to have a job with shift work, here are some tips to help:

Prepare

When you have to be to work by 6 a.m., there’s not a lot of prep time in the morning. Set up your uniforms, food, and anything else you need for your shift in the same spot every day.

The Golden Rule

Remember when your parents taught you “treat others the way you’d like to be treated?” They were talking about your future shift work job. You hate when your coworkers stroll into work 15 minutes late, right? Unlike a “normal” job where you can leave when the day is over, shift workers have to stay until they are replaced. Show up on time, ready to take over.

Health

There are so many side effects of working shift work, especially rotating shift work. Your body is engrained with a clock that knows when it should sleep, wake up, eat, and go back to sleep. By working all hours of the day, you throw the clock off of its natural rhythm. Use these simple tips to stay healthy:

• Avoid fake sugar, especially energy drinks. If you get tired, pump out some pushups.
• Eat as healthy as you can, your body needs every bit of nutrients it can get.
• If you work indoors, get fresh air when you can.
• If you work at a computer, let your eyes rest often, practice good posture, and don’t sit down for the entire shift.

Sleep

I couldn’t survive shift work without my sleeping rituals. After a night shift, I would get home, watch something on the DVR and have a light breakfast. Then, I’d get my bedroom nice and cold, close the blackout shades, insert earplugs, and put on my sleep mask.

I used to work a rotating schedule that consisted of two 12-hour day shifts followed by two 12-hour night shifts, then four days off. Management called it four days off, but we all knew it was a little more than three and a half, which is a big deal to a shift worker.

Routine

I always stressed to new coworkers to not do anything on your days “on.” These days were meant for working and sleeping. Don’t run any errands, don’t make plans with friends, avoid doing laundry if you can. Then, on your first day off, when you get off at 7 a.m., you can do some very low-key activities. The plan is to get your body back on schedule so you can wake up for your next day shifts. So, do house chores, laundry, and just relax.

The next three days you can do whatever you want. Go on a short trip, binge watch Netflix or run a marathon. These days are your new “weekend”. It’s nice because the usual busy mall is now empty on Wednesday afternoon, you avoid most traffic, and you have a three-day weekend every weekend.

I didn’t mind rotating shifts too much, because your days on went by very fast. By the time it was your second 12-hour day shift, you were rotating to night shift and didn’t have to wake up at 5 a.m. Then, before you knew it, it was your second night shift and you met a three-day weekend!

Again, these tips are primarily focused on rotating shift work. Working all days or all nights has their own challenges. Find what methods work for you, but keep your health as a top priority.

Disclaimer: The content in this article is the opinion of the writer and does not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of US Patriot Tactical.

Resources > Blog > The Night Watch: How to Survive Working the Night Shift (Tonight!)

Starting a new job can be exciting yet nerve-wracking. You’ll be facing new challenges and getting to know new co-workers.

One of the biggest challenges many people face is having to work the night shift. Also known as the “graveyard shift”, working nights can be a tough adjustment. Especially when you’ve grown accustomed to getting up early and working during daylight.

Many people enjoy working at night, while others don’t. The key is to prepare your mind and body for working nocturnal hours.

This article takes a look at tips for working late at night that will make the transition a little easier. Keep reading to get the inside scoop on making the experience at your new job as pleasant as possible.

Take Time to Adjust

It’s important to keep in mind that working at night can be a shock to your system at first. After all, everything will feel turned upside down. You will be sleeping when the sun is out, and working while it’s dark. This isn’t natural, thus your mind and body will likely go through withdrawal for a bit.

Just be patient. Don’t expect to make the adjustment overnight. Give yourself time to adjust, and try to understand things might not feel normal for at least a few weeks.

Stick to a Strict Routine

Next, make a serious effort to form a strict daily routine and don’t deviate from it. This will help your mind and body adapt more quickly because at least you’ll know what to expect each day. Why? Because predictability is the best way to ease into any change in your life.

Get Plenty of Sleep

You’re going to need lots of sleep. And yet this might be a challenge. After all, it’s never easy sleeping during daylight.

Fortunately, there are certain things you can do to improve sleep. First, use blackout curtains to reduce sunlight coming through your windows. Second, take melatonin or some other sleep aid to help you fall asleep faster.

Stick to a Healthy Diet

Food and drinks containing caffeine and sugar aren’t your friends. You need to stick to a healthy diet that will encourage your body to function properly. This will also help to improve sleep because your mind will be able to relax more quickly so that you can get the rest you need to be healthy and productive.

You might find yourself being tempted to consume lots of junk food and sugary drinks during the late shift, but you’ll be far better off sticking to salads and healthy snacks.

Bond with Your Coworkers

When working late, it’s crucial to be as social as possible. Bonding with co-workers will help you feel at home and provide a more comfortable transition to working odd hours when you’d normally be asleep. This will also help reduce potential conflicts.

Get Plenty of Exercise

Never underestimate the value of exercise. This is one of the most important aspects ofmental and physical well-being. Participating in cardiovascular activity will keep your body strong and clear your mind that you can stay happy and productive.

A Guide to Working the Night Shift

Working late at night isn’t always easy. Fortunately, this guide to working the night shift will help ensure the best transition possible.

Feel free to contact us for more information about how we can help you be successful.

Entrepreneur’s New Year’s Guide

You’re reading Entrepreneur Middle East, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

Today, business leaders are operating under more constraints than they’ve experienced in recent years and markets. The impact of the COVID-19 crisis has caused the confinement and lockdown of both people and global commerce. Now, the outfall of those measures is a depleted global economy, which has created more challenges for businesses to prosper.

These constraints have forced new ways of working. Business leaders have been required to implement new, more flexible organizational measures in order to preserve their businesses– to operate and survive under these constraints. Businesses and organizations have moved to remote working from home, wherever their industry allows. Organizations have had to reduce their workforces, removing employees from committed payroll in order to balance their books. They have had to look at their people and talent in new ways– as this time of crisis is a shared experience that both enables and demands empathy and reflection.

These changes have been forced by an acute situation, and businesses and the way that they manage their workforce have changed quickly, because they had to. However, many of those changes are here to stay. This crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has proven that for businesses to survive, they must allow for variability– they must incorporate a level of flexibility and slack to how they operate, and work with their people in order to navigate challenging times.

Many businesses that have been officebound for decades have now managed remote working, as employees join Zoom calls as the only way to connect with their teams and clients. And to the contradiction of the past decade of office policies, many businesses and teams have been successful in this model- continuing meetings, progressing collaboration, and even delivering pitches in pursuit of new business.

Of course, this resiliency come with its challenges, but it has also provoked conversations and individual reflection and recognition of the benefits of working from home. Remote working eliminates a commute, saving time that individuals have been able to repurpose for pursuing their passions, taking care of their health, and being with their friends and families. Many employees have self-assessed that they are more efficient at home, where they are able to focus, and maintain that focus.

The benefits of working from home, however, do not negate the benefits of our former ways– of being in the office together. The office environment enables camaraderie and human connection. It’s a place where employees, managers, and team members can look each other in the eye and recognize each other as human beings, and for their skills and expertise.

So, what do we do now? To think we have only two options would be shortsighted. Perhaps we don’t need to just go to the office. Or abandon the office to stay at home. Perhaps business leaders can decide to do both– they can embrace flexibility, and offer their teams the slack that will enable them to reap the benefits of each working environment. By offering employees flexibility in where they work, this then gives employees further flexibility in how they work, further equipping them to be able to respond to ongoing variable market pressures and changes that we can expect as the globe recovers from this crisis.

While the change in the market and economy was abrupt with the global reaction to COVID-19 in March, the reset will be ongoing. Most people and organizations will go through extended recovery and recalibration based on the upset of the year’s second quarter. Many businesses have not been able to withstand the economic crisis and have closed. Many of those businesses that remain are a bit scarred and cautious. For some, their safety parachute has already been deployed, and they have no further back-up to finance the business in lieu of revenue. They have had to let go of staff and are operating with a minimized workforce and limited skillsets. The talent structures that led a successful pre-COVID-19 businesses have now mostly collapsed.

Business leaders must face this talent and workforce deficit with flexibility. They must address the needs of their business, while also safeguarding against potential future variability in the market for the success of their business. For inspiration of approach, business leaders should look to Hollywoodnot to venerate the latest blockbuster, but to learn from how they make the blockbusters. The workforce model in Hollywood is based on short-term contracts, specific to a production or a project. It is the epitome of the gig economy in many ways (although some would say that the gig economy is, in fact, specific to even more contained, temporary tasks than making a movie). The Hollywood model is contracting workers are procured to work on a specific and secured job, with a specific and required set of skills or abilities.

Applying this to ongoing business operations in a time of great economic variability means that businesses recruit for temporary staff or expertise based on secured revenue or projects– addressing staffing requirements, while enabling long-term flexibility by mitigating the risk of salary commitments. By building a network of talent specialisms that can be engaged when and where required, a business can avoid the ongoing cost or liability of having that specialty on payroll, especially if the need for it is variable.

While this approach of tapping into the gig economy may require a bit more organization and planning, the benefits of this model can be great for business leaders. This model enables leaders to tap into more specialized talent for projects that require specific skill requirements. It allows business leaders to utilize staffing budgets more flexibly, so if a project demands a more experienced or higher skilled person, budget can be temporarily allocated to the right talent for the job. Emulating Hollywood for your staffing model also expands the talent pool by removing geographical requirements of the worker, where available. This means that business leaders have more options with who they choose to bring in projects, as they look at talent globally, knowing that the risk of a more dispersed workforce is reduced when the engagement is finite and focused.

Of course, this talent management and staffing model comes with increased commitment and flexibility from the business organization to recruit, vet, and manage incoming and outgoing workers. It also can put workers at risk– as the gig economy becomes more common throughout markets and industries, it threatens job and income stability for workers. However, as priorities continue to change for generations entering the workforce, and evidence of the benefits to individual flexibility continues to come from our current crisis recovery, that trade off of risk may prove to be sustainable, and even desired, by workers.

If there is one thing that business leaders can hold tight to, as we continue to navigate this time of recovery and move into the post-COVID-19 era, it is that the right amount of slack or flexibility can help your people- and help your business perform at its best.

Doing shift work is a commitment. Your body and mind need your support to survive the hours. That support consists of preparation and discipline.

Your partner and your family

Obviously, there is a good reason for you to accept a job that involves working shifts. Having a family meeting (with someone taking notes) is a great idea to discuss how you’re all going to make this work.

• What duties do you need to put aside because of your shift work? Who will take them on?
• Work out the “quiet” times; when everybody in the house needs to listen to their music by earplug because you are sleeping. Putting a sign on your bedroom door will remind everyone.
• What’s the plan of action regarding meals? Will you be having breakfast at 9:30 pm and then a dinner at 7:30 am? What will you be eating?
• If the people living in your house do a lot of coming and going, a whiteboard or another form of communication might prevent some problems or misunderstandings.

Sleeping

Shift work puts your body clock out, making hard to get to sleep. Go the extra mile to get some quality sleep.

• Don’t have a big meal before sleeping.
• ​Make your room as dark and cool as possible; hang blankets or black garbage bags over the windows if you need to. Consider purchasing curtains with a backing that blocks light and heat.
• ​Invest in a sleep mask and earplugs.
• ​If you live in a noisy area, try to have some “white noise” in your bedroom. A noise like an air-conditioner or a fan can help to block noise from the outside. There are even apps for white noise that are specifically to help you to sleep.
• If you are going to be home alone mainly when you are trying to sleep, especially during the day, think about putting a sign on your front door. The sign can give potential visitors a warning that a shift worker lives here. Keep this in mind for deliveries and for anyone else who “pops” in.
• This one can be tough; keep the same hours of sleeping and waking on your days off. It makes sense, though. Once your body becomes used to your new sleeping time, you don’t want to confuse it by changing the plan on two days each week.

Getting up

• The use of caffeine in coffee is a well-known aid for shift workers, but try to keep it to a minimum. A couple of cups of coffee in your “morning” is beneficial, but too much caffeine will make it harder to sleep later.
• Your body needs help to work out when it is your “morning.” A light therapy lamp for 30 minutes can make all the difference. You can use the lamp while you are having your breakfast or watching TV. Have a look at our Compare page; just click on the name of the lamp to see our full review.
• Would it help you to have a few things ready for when you get up for work? I know it does for me. Would it help to have your uniform/ clothes ready? Would it help to have your lunch and snacks already made? This could be part of your routine before you go to bed.

Coming home from the night shift

• If you’re working the night shift, wear your sunglasses on the trip home. Sunlight is nature’s trigger for your body to be ready for the day. Nature doesn’t know that this is your evening when you’re coming home!
• Consider car-pooling for you and your workmates’ safety. And it saves money on gas. But that doesn’t mean going to sleep in the car. Whoever is the passenger or passengers should stay awake and actively talk to the driver. Some laughs would be even better!
• A long time ago, I did night shift for a couple of years. I loved my job, and I liked leaving when everyone else was arriving. I made a point of sitting in the daylight to get my vitamin D every morning. What a dope! No wonder I found it so hard to sleep. I was telling my body that now was the time to wake up. If I had to do it again, I would get a Vitamin D supplement and a light therapy lamp!

My main advice is to think ahead and try to make things as easy (and healthy) as you can for yourself. Listen to the signals that your body is giving you. If you notice that a part of your routine is not working, what changes can you make to solve the problem? Be kind to yourself; you’ll survive working shifts for a lot longer!

How do you handle doing shift work? If you have any tips that will help someone else, please leave a comment below.

Sameer Bhatia is an Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) member in Los Angeles, and founder of ProProfs, which provides software tools that help organizations have smarter employees and happier customers through interactive training and quiz software that improves knowledge and collaboration. As an EO member, Sameer accessed EO’s Virtual Speaker Tour featuring Mike Merchant, a consultant with expertise on leadership development and change management. The webinar series helps entrepreneurs find the strength, courage and tools necessary to persevere during the Covid-19 crisis. Sameer shared this summary of Merchant’s message:

Want your business to make it through Covid-19? Use S.A.M.

That’s the advice of Mike Merchant, senior consultant at the Arbinger Institute, a management-training firm founded in 1979 on the premise that the best executives have an “outward mindset” that helps them understand other people’s needs and objectives, as opposed to an “inward mindset” that keeps them focused only on their own.

What is S.A.M.?

S.A.M. is a tool to help you develop an outward mindset. It works both at home and in business. Merchant, a graduate of Brigham Young University’s Marriott School of Management, uses it with his seven “redheaded and musical children,” and it works great, he says.

• See others
• Adjust efforts
• Measure impact

The world must be full of raving narcissists if “seeing others” qualifies as management advice, right? Maybe so, but Merchant encounters a lot of well-meaning, driven corporate leaders who are blind to others’ challenges and needs. They are so concerned with being productive that they lose sight of whether their product is what customers want.

That is a hallmark of the inward mindset. Another one is only seeing other people for their usefulness to oneself–seeing them only as vehicles or obstacles. Change starts with recognizing that other people have challenges and needs of their own, Merchant explained on a recent EO Virtual Speaker Tour webinar.

How to implement S.A.M.

Here’s how it works, using the example of Merchant and his family. He’s on the road a lot, so when he’s home, he makes a point to check in with each of the seven kids, asking point-blank how he’s doing as a father. What can he do better? That is seeing others.

Once, one of them told him: “You could answer the phone more often when Mom calls.” Clearly, the child was in the car with Merchant’s wife, who became frustrated when she couldn’t get him on the phone. So, he tried to take her calls whenever possible. That’s adjusting effort. Then, he checked in with the child again to see how he was doing. That’s measuring impact.

Business benefits of S.A.M.

Why is this so important now, during the pandemic? Because if you don’t know what your customers are up against, you’re going to have a hard time keeping them, Merchant says. That’s true all the time, but it’s especially true now when everything is in flux.

Having an outward mindset, and being intentional about it, engenders strategic flexibility, which is what we need most of all right now. Merchant says. Habits are changing; purchases are changing; business is changing. If you don’t pick up on those changes, you’ll be in trouble. An outward mindset makes you aware of those changes.

“When I have an outward mindset, I’m not just concerned about output,” Merchant says. “I’m concerned with whether that output helps others. I get laser-focused on whether what I’m doing is useful to you.”

Try a simple S.A.M. exercise

Another example: Merchant worked with the executive staff to leaders of a city. He learned that the staff spent most of their time catering to the mayor and council members, and less time dealing with other public needs. So, the staff put all of their regularly produced reports on tables in a conference room and asked the mayor and other officials to take a look at them.

What did they read? What didn’t they read? The mayor and council members walked around and commented on all of the work. As a result, the staff learned what their clients–the mayor and council members–needed; and what they didn’t need. Within a week, Merchant helped the staff eliminate the equivalent of 72 hours of work, freeing themselves up for other projects.

Until they conducted that exercise, the staff didn’t truly know what their clients needed. A similar exercise, from an outward mindset frame of reference, will help you discover what your clients truly need, so you can prioritize efforts toward providing it.

The current business environment represents an ideal time to cultivate an outward mindset, Merchant says. An inward mindset may even be deadly for your company.

Across America, many companies are moving to longer shift schedules for their employees. In the manufacturing sector, 12-hour shifts have already been common for decades and PMG employees are very familiar with finding ways to work them successfully.

If you’re wondering how you can possibly make it through a work schedule that accounts for half of the total time available in a day, here are some tips and tricks for surviving a 12-hour shift.

Professionalism

Get Your Mind Right

A 12-hour shift is 50% longer than an 8-hour one. You have to start each shift with the right mindset. If not, it will feel longer and get more dangerous.

“The long hours can wear on you mentally…so you need to show up wanting to be there and focused on safety, of course.”

Dan O. – Welder

You Can Always Teach or Learn

There’s always a chance of downtime during production. The question is, what do you do with it? Passing along knowledge is a great way to pass time.

“Twelve-hour shifts are much shorter if you’re busy so help others with their work or just clean up.”

Jeff C. – Maintenance

Don’t Forget What You’re Working For

The good part is long hours equal large paychecks.

“An old road dog told me not to ever forget what you’re doing this for…money.”

Jeff C. – Maintenance

Physical Condition

Elements & Conditions

The work is one thing, but the situation you’re working in is an entirely different thing to consider.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re ready for the job; if you’re not ready for the weather, the wrong clothing can ruin a job.”

Jason H. – Operations Manager

Battery Life

Your tools won’t work if the battery is dead and neither will your body. Taking sleep seriously is a must for surviving long shifts.

“The people that struggle the least with long hours are the ones that get enough sleep the night before.”

Kim M. – Technical Manager

Fill Your Tank

If you’re making a trip in your car, you need enough fuel in the tank to get there. The same thing goes for your body. Eating and drinking right is imperative.

“You have to make sure your body is ready for it with plenty of nutrition and hydration.”

Dan O. – Welder

Mental Condition

Environment

The nature of production facilities means some can be less than stimulating and some tasks can get repetitive. Often, the best cure for this is a simple change of perspective.

“Adjust your vision periodically, meaning don’t stare at the same thing constantly. It’s a small thing, but it can go a long way.”

Jason H. – Operations Manager

Smaller Time Blocks

Production runs, especially big ones, can deal with some daunting numbers. Thus, the best way to attack them is often in smaller chunks.

“I like to set short incremental goals. Cutting a cycle time for a part down from eight minutes to seven can result in substantial savings on a 1000-piece run and it makes the day go faster working in shorter time frames.”

Dan C. – Machinist

Prioritize Appropriately

The more you put on your plate, the easier it is to get overwhelmed. Make sure your checklist is in good working order.

“Our best techs all have a lot they could do. They learn how to recognize what needs to be done, compared to what they’d like done, and then set their work accordingly.”

Kim M. – Technical Manager

The next time you have a long shift, or mandatory over-time come up, don’t dread it. Rather, try using some of these tips from our employees to help you prepare to not only survive your shift, but shine during it. If you think you’ve already got 12-hour days down, then maybe consider a position with PMG.

Check out our website to learn more about open positions

About the Author

Josh Erickson, ReTool & Technical Solutions Associate

If you work a 10-hour (or longer) workday, you’re probably getting stressed out from the long hours and accumulating daily responsibilities. Sometimes you’re likely ready to throw in the towel and cut back on your hours. However, if you’re working longer hours to make extra money, you need to find a way to bring some sense of balance back into your day so that you don’t go insane. Consider implementing some of the following tips into your daily routine so that you can survive and thrive in a 10-hour work ay environment.

1. Bring humor into your day

One important way to survive your day is to revive your sense of humour. Don’t allow your current work situation to bring you down. Find ways to bring humour back into your daily routine. Depending on your workplace environment and how laid-back (or not) that your boss is, you can decide to go big or go home. Live like it’s April Fool’s Day all year long. However, you don’t want to constantly annoy your coworkers or jeopardize your boss’s favour and lose your job. So, settling for bringing limited humour into your workday through telling a joke or simply laughing to relieve your stress can make all the difference in the world.

2. Treat your job like a gym

People who work long hours don’t always have the time to head over to the gym before or after work to exercise. However, exercising is important in maintaining your daily health and well-being. So, think outside the box and treat your job like a gym. Of course, you cannot waste the entire day doing lunges and squats all over the office. You’d lose your job and maybe be carried out in a straitjacket. Find ways to be smart about incorporating exercise into your day like choosing the stairs over the elevator or parking several blocks from your office so you can walk further.

3. Make a dream goal board

This may sound like a corny idea. However, visualizing where you want to be is extremely important in helping you to get there. Whether you use the old-fashioned poster board technique or a vision board app, you need to find a way to list your goals and dreams of where you want to be in the next few years. Of course, do not allow this to occupy all your time at work. Save any dream board editing for home or for when you are on your break. Remember to keep this step in balance with an acceptance of your current 10-hour workday situation. You don’t want to be so focused on your dream board that you lose sight of doing your daily work and adding more frustration and stress to your day. The goal of the dream board is to help you survive the monotony of the long workday. Just don’t go flashing your dream board app around the office or people will start to think you’re really losing it and bring you down.

4. Indulge in your passions

Now I’m not necessarily talking about your love life, but hey, if that’s your way to relieve stress then go to town. However, if you want to survive a 10-hour workday, you need to find a way to indulge your passions. Find a hobby that you can fit into your day or at least once in your weekly schedule. For example, if you’re working two separate jobs and can come home for an hour or two during the day, enter the Battlefield on your Xbox. If you work ten hours straight at one job, find a way to fulfil your passions before or after work or during your break time. If you absolutely have no time to play during the day, make sure you plan for a relaxing weekend, at least once or twice each month.

5. Balance your personal life

The final tip involves being determined to figure out how to balance your personal life so that it helps to relieve your stress and not add to it. If that means dating less than five girls, well…maybe some ladies need to go. Seriously though, if you want to survive a 10-hour workday and thrive, balancing your personal life is an important step to take. If you have a spouse, partner or children, work within your family dynamic to figure out ways that will help relieve your daily stress. Find a way to enjoy your personal life and the time that you spend with family and friends.

What steps have you taken to survive a 10-hour workday?

Related

A typical day in the life of a call center worker entails hours of conversation with existing and prospective customers, many of whom are rude and unpleasant. Dealing with constant rejection and verbal abuse can take a toll on your mental health. Proven stress-management techniques for call center agents can save your sanity and increase your effectiveness when handling inbound or outbound calls.

Common Call Center Stressors

Working at a call center is not for everyone. Hours are long, pay is low and burnout is high. Several additional factors feed into employee dissatisfaction, according to Jabra. For example:

• Unreasonable employer expectations of call volume
• Constant pressure to meet sales quotas
• Unclear job duties
• Call monitoring by critical supervisors
• Outdated equipment with poor sound quality
• Boring, repetitive scripts for cold calling

The job requires a thick skin, endless patience and anger management skills when responding to angry and unreasonable callers. Not knowing what to expect when placing or answering a call compounds stress and anxiety. Lack of support and inadequate training can cause a chronic state of stress known as call center stress syndrome.

Develop Customer Service Orientation

Survey research conducted by Toister Performance Solutions, Inc., revealed that 74 percent of call center agents are at risk for exhaustion and burnout. Agents at low risk for burnout were those individuals who found meaning and purpose in their work. They enjoyed their positive interactions with customers and didn’t take insults personally. Toister described these successful call center agents as having a customer service orientation that enabled them to maintain a positive attitude.

In other words, dealing with stress is easier when your primary goal is to make a difference in people’s lives by being friendly, positive and helpful. Make it your mission to solve problems without being distracted or taking offense to the caller’s tone or attitude. Use your call center experience to develop patience, listening skills and professionalism, which will serve you well wherever your career path takes you.

Practice Positive Self-Care

Dutiful self-care is imperative to counterbalance a job that is stressful, fast-paced and often thankless. Get serious about eating a nutritious, balanced diet. Indulging in candy bars, donuts, coffee and energy drinks only provides temporary relief from fatigue and imperils your health. Pack a tasty lunch and bring your own snacks instead of relying on expensive vending machines.

Develop a regular sleep schedule by going to bed at the same time even if you’re not sleepy. You need to be rested to handle a job that requires alertness and speed. You’re more apt to make mistakes on the job and fall behind if you’re fatigued. Customer Think suggests using an app with deep breathing exercises to relax between phone calls if your nerves are on edge.

Make the most of your breaks. Get up, move around and stretch. Pay attention to ergonomics in your worksite. Avoid slouching and inquire about equipment options if you’re experiencing back or neck pain.

Prevent Call Center Depression

Stave off depression by reminding yourself that working at a call center is temporary and is a stepping stone to less stressful jobs in customer service, retail and management. In the meantime, you’re developing a work history and skills to enhance your resume. Reject the notion that being a call center agent is a low-status job. Take pride in the fact that you work hard and play an important role in the success of the company.

Call center stress relievers include making friends with coworkers. A support system at work can make the job more enjoyable. Ask for suggestions on handling difficult situations that weren’t discussed during training. During team meetings, share ideas for increasing efficiency, changing policies or improving working conditions.

Compartmentalize your life so your job is just a way to pay the bills and do the things that really matter to you. Find a creative outlet such as a new hobby that will add joy to your life. Consider meditation, yoga, exercise videos or listening to music more often.