An Endogenous Cause of Stress

We schedule time to do a task. The task is conceptually simple (a computer based task involving creating a diagram or presentation). The task fits into a list of other tasks that have to be accomplished on the same day. However, we allocate too little time to the task and it takes longer than we expect. Instead of 1 hour it takes 2 hours (twice as long) and still it's not finished. We start to feel stressed. We realise our original plan as to how we would do the task is tougher than we thought, we cannot use the tools we thought we could use and there is a learning curve for the new tools. The key stressor here: we did not expect to have to learn new skills to accomplish what we thought was simple. Instead of feeling excited and motivated by the opportunity to learn new stuff, we sink into the quicksand of obligated learning, or more accurately, obligated learning under time constraints. The key thing is to embrace the learning opportunity as an exhilirating new experience. Accept it will take extra time to accomplish and allocate that time. After the process you will have learned something new. Acceptance is the best strategy, postpone other tasks and focus on the present one. If it must be done, it must be done. Don't fight the necessity to learn, accept and allocate time. Else you will be stressed, in a rush and won't make good progress. Take a few deep breaths and remind yourself: "Acceptance".