How to deal with work related planning anxiety?

Hello all,

I often plan for big meetings/project by considering worst case scenario. However this often sends my anxiety and stress through the roof. To me, this seems like best way to be thorough in my preparation but it isn’t sustainable for me.

I wanted to get some perspectives from those that have been successful at result oriented/fast paced careers ( pretty much most ppl on this forum). How do you deal with anxiety while you plan for an important event at work? Do you simply over prepare until you are comfortable ?

4 Comments
 
Most Helpful

Consider middle of the road scenario. Rehearse it once or twice as you would actually deliver it - not worst case scenario, just 2pm on a Wednesday in another meeting. Anticipate the questions people will likely ask and have good answers for them, but don't go overboard here. If you really like to prepare I would make a list of 10, no more than 20 potential questions people might ask and write out answers to them. 

Realistically, no one is going to roast you to a crisp in a work meeting. If something is the wrong fit, incorrectly done etc... guess what, people just pass on it or ask to go back for more work. This is not the emergency room. It's absolutely okay to say "thanks for that question, we can do some more work around that and get back to you". 

This is just something that comes with practice and experience. But don't drive yourself into extreme anxiety trying to prep for the worst case scenario which will never happen

Array
 

I stress about it and procrastinate until the last minute and then pump out excellence. "The pressure makes me fresher." 

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

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