| Trent Jensen was a quiet, mild mannered, polite hard | | | | to impede quality time with friends and family. |
| worker. He wasn't sullen and he wasn't overly jovial. | | | | - Create an Exercise Routine. Although Trent's |
| He was just...well, normal. Trent generally arrived early | | | | company had its own expensively equipped gym, |
| to his cubicle in the IT Department of a Fortune 250 | | | | tennis courts, and jogging trail, Trent never felt that he |
| company and worked diligently until noon when he | | | | had the time to spend exercising. Therefore, his health |
| generally lunched with several co-workers. He then | | | | started deteriorating and he stopped enjoying any kind |
| returned to his desk (located in Building C, floor 2, the | | | | of physical activity. |
| third row down, 5th cubicle on the left) and worked or | | | | - Create a "things-to-do" list. Trent was so wrapped up |
| attended meetings until time to leave. His job was quite | | | | in constantly feeling as though he was "putting out |
| stressful with numerous deadlines and meetings, | | | | fires" that he never seemed to get ahead of his work |
| however Trent seemed to take it in stride. As more | | | | load. He jumped from one crisis to the next - and the |
| and more deadlines piled up, he started taking his | | | | tasks that were routine last week, became critical this |
| laptop home with him and spending nights and | | | | week. By setting up a list and prioritizing his tasks, |
| weekends trying to get caught up. The pattern was | | | | Trent could have handled his job tasks in a more |
| followed year after year. That's why everyone was | | | | efficient manner. |
| surprised when one morning, Trent just flipped out. | | | | 3. Concentrate - The environment that Trent worked |
| Trent was preparing for a meeting and needed to | | | | in wore upon him more than he knew. The constant |
| make copies of some documents. Once again, the | | | | low-level noise distracted him and therefore tasks took |
| brand new color copier (that cost more than the | | | | longer than they should have. There are several |
| average worker's salary) jammed. And it didn't just | | | | techniques that Trent could have utilized that would |
| jam a little - it jammed completely and utterly. That's | | | | have allowed him to improve his concentration. They |
| when Trent just lost it. He screamed, he yelled, he | | | | include meditation techniques, white noise machine and |
| cussed, he picked up the closest thing (which | | | | even ear plugs. |
| happened to be an umbrella) and attacked the helpless | | | | 4. Relocate - It doesn't hurt to check into the possibility |
| copy machine. Of course, everyone's heads popped | | | | of relocating to a quieter part of the floor. Trent was in |
| up out of their cubicles to watch the spectacle but no | | | | a high traffic area next to the copy machine. He could |
| one tried to calm or stop Trent - they just stared, | | | | have possibly moved to a quieter area. |
| slack-jawed, and let him rant and rave. After several | | | | 5. Eliminate - There are multiple techniques that Trent |
| minutes the copier was totally destroyed and Trent | | | | could have used to eliminate, or at least alleviate his |
| was escorted from the building by 5 armed company | | | | stress. |
| security guards. | | | | 6. Evaluate - Oft times people are so caught up in their |
| Of course, Trent's melt down was the main topic of | | | | moment to moment business, that they don't take the |
| conversation for days. Those who were his friends | | | | time to just sit and think. If Trent had stopped to taken |
| were concerned but many others just enjoyed | | | | some time to prioritize and then perhaps his melt down |
| discussing what had happened and how he looked as | | | | could have been prevented. |
| he was demolishing the copy machine. Of course, the | | | | 7. Medicate - Sometimes people's body chemistry |
| story became embellished and soon spun out of | | | | goes haywire. Trent's meltdown is an indication that |
| control. | | | | something extreme was happening. Perhaps a quick |
| Trent took a medical leave of absence and never | | | | trip to the doctor would have been in order. |
| returned to his Building C, floor 2, the third row down, | | | | 8. Rejuvenate - Trent was so caught up in his job that |
| 5th cubicle on the left position. | | | | he spent more and more time working and less time |
| So just what was it that triggered Trent's melt down | | | | relaxing. He became so tightly wound that he broke. |
| and how could it have been prevented? | | | | When you're in a high stress position, it's important to |
| Here are 8 tips that if Trent had followed, his melt | | | | prioritize things. |
| down might have been prevented. | | | | Although Trent's name has been changed, the |
| 1. Meditate - An open cubicle environment can be | | | | scenario is true. I was one of the prairie dog people |
| particularly stressful to workers. The constant noise | | | | who stood with my mouth agape, watching Trent |
| level, phones ringing, interruptions cut down on | | | | attack the copy machine with an umbrella. (This |
| productivity and raise stress levels. By using some | | | | happened 10 years prior to Brittney's umbrella attack |
| simple meditation techniques, Trent could have learned | | | | on the SUV). I was one of the people whom Trent |
| to relax and filter out the background interruptions. | | | | lunched with almost daily. After witnessing Trent's |
| 2. Create - As the mental and emotional stresses of | | | | behavior that day, I realized that almost anyone in our |
| his job increased, Trend changed his priorities from his | | | | department could be in the same position as Trent. |
| family and interests to spending more and more time | | | | That's when I started making changes in my life - |
| working. His free-time disappeared and he started | | | | positive changes that allow me to work from home, |
| experiencing marital problems which further multiplied | | | | have my own schedule and make a lot more money |
| his stress. If Trent had created several important | | | | than Trent ever dreamed of making. |
| elements he could have made his life a bit easier. | | | | If you are in danger of being a "Trent", then contact |
| - Create Free Time. Schedule a set time to spend with | | | | me or put together a plan to make positive, healthy |
| those you love. Put away the work and don't allow it | | | | changes in your life. |
