Gubernatorial Stress

Even though its Tuesday, and that's usually a day to discuss work stress, I think today it is worth it to stray from the plan and discuss stress as it pertains to New York's very own Client #9. It's clear that stress is everywhere in this story. Imagine how stressful it must be to get caught patronizing a high end prostitution ring, especially when you're governor of NY. Now he must be feeling the stress of deciding whether or not to resign, wondering if and how legal action will be taken against him, and of course there is the stress on his wife and kids. This must be incredibly rough for them. I spose it's even possible that stress is what lead to him to do what he did. All $4300 dollars worth of it.

So what can we learn here (aside from the obvious)?
If things get really bad, as they do from time to time (but it is more likely to if you are dumb enough to do what he did. I mean come on. seriously? wtf?), go back to basics. Remember to breathe. And take it from there. Things tend to get easier with time.

Decisions

At dinner recently my parents called to my attention an article in the New York Times from last week. In it, an experiment is described, the results of which prove that it is better to make a decision than to keep one's options open.

You can read it in detail here, but if you don't feel so inclined, I will try to sum up. Basically, the study asked people to pick between 3 doors on a computer screen. Behind each door was a different amount of money which the subject would get by clicking the number (they really did get paid). The amount changes after each click but it is possible to determine which door has the highest yield by clicking on all 3. The optimal strategy is to figure out what door wins you the most money and then stick with it. But that is not what people do. They go back to the other doors. They leave their options open even though they are the poorer for it.

The moral of the story is, make up your mind! You'll be better off. But for me, and a whole bunch of other people it sounds like, this is easier said than done. Because what if I make the wrong choice? I would much rather put off deciding until the last possible moment just in case some new information comes to light.

When I think about it though, I realize that not deciding is a stressful strategy. By leaving one's options open, the need to make a decision is always on the table. Therefore, if you're me, you continue thinking about it, worrying about which way to go until the very last second. Even if you know the chances are good that nothing will change if you make up your mind a little earlier, you can't stand to pick one because seeing that other door close will be too hard. Ugh. I totally hate making decisions.

The relaxing strategy is the non-intuitive one. Just pick something. And perhaps the freedom from the stress of deciding is the equivalent of the real money behind door #3.

The headphones that save my morning

Happy Tuesday. In a true test of Less Stress in the Office Day, today I had the most appalling commute ever. Had to get off an express train and onto a local for a sick passenger, local train went to stops and then stopped with a broken door. Stop in a tunnel due to "train traffic" for 5 or so minutes, then have to wait for 3 more express trains to go by before getting on one. Nothing like spending an hour of your morning rubbing up against a whole bunch of angry new yorkers. It's a special experience.

Aside from the relief I felt at finally getting off at my stop I think the key to dealing with the whole situation was my headphones. I had my music going the whole time. This had the helpful effect of allowing me to feel like I was somewhere else (i.e. not smushed between the really really tall guy and the guy whose dog was flipping out). So I got to work feeling totally cheery (probably to an annoying extent).

Even though music on the commute isn't technically an office stress reducer, it can help you arrive to the office in a pleasant mood. And starting the day out right- just like breakfast, or doing your breathing in traffic, or getting enough sleep- is a powerful stress reducer.