Go through each item on the list you have put together and prioritised from information gathered via the Home Stress Table, the Work Stress Table and the Stress Diary and check it against the list of possible stressors below.

Click on the links to find support, resources and potential solutions. If you have an item on your list which does not appear below, click on one or more of the links which seems to be in that area of concern and look at possible options.

• Difficulty for PMs in Managing Partners – see Managing Managers and Emotional Intelligence in Professional Relationships
• Difficulty for PMs in Managing Staff – see Managing Staff and Emotional Intelligence in Professional Relationships
• Difficulty in relationships at home – see Emotional Intelligence
• Feeling isolated (PMs) – see Isolation
• Feeling Powerless – see Timekeeping and Emotional Intelligence and Managing Managers
• Feeling overwhelmed – see Timekeeping and Managing Managers and Managing Staff and Isolation
• Feeling exhausted – see Timekeeping and Managing Staff and Isolation
• Feeling burdened by the demands of external agencies eg QOFs, ICBs etc. – see Timekeeping and Managing Staff and Isolation

You can then enter the most important stressors on the Stress Management Plan Template and for each one, decide on what action you will now take to reduce the stress it is causing.

When you find yourself stressed, ask yourself one question: Will this matter in 5 years from now? If yes, then do something about the situation. If no, then let it go.

Catherine Pulsifer