Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve W
Nope, I'm not addicted.................... MUCH
I struggle with this issue all of the time. I have a problem with saying no. It becomes really hard when I really enjoy what I am being asked to do. I sometimes get burnt out (at least twice a year) and become more grumpy that usual. This does not bode well for me or the program. We must all balance ourselves and if you have problems doing that we must find someone that we believe in to put a hand on our shoulder and hold us back. FIRST can become all consuming. Take my advice and do not let it take over your life. Make it a big part and you will benefit huge but let it take over and you lose.
Now back to more CD.
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Steve touches on a good point here. Basically, there are two types of stress that we deal with: Good Stress happens when we are energized and invigorated, and all those pleasant brain chemicals are released -- this is what FIRST should be. Bad Stress occurs when things seem to become chaotic and out of our control -- this is what FIRST should not become. Steve has specifically mentioned burnout, and that is one area of bad stress that many of us will go through during the upcoming season. Mentally, step back away from the program once in a while and consider whether the task has become one you find unenjoyable. If it has, seek out others on your team who will still view it as a welcome challenge. Working on an unenjoyable task often will close your mind to the myriad solutions that may be available.
One method we use to keep the "good stress" on our team is to recognize accomplishments every evening during the business portion of our meetings. Whether it's a breakthrough design for a robot component, or the realization that a brainstormed idea isn't going to pan out and a change of direction is needed, something significant is being accomplished continuously. This period of recognition allows us to celebrate the work being done by the students on each of our sub-teams, and in turn invigorates and encourages that sub-team to go and accomplish even more.
Recognition and respect for each others accomplishments is a key component to developing fully as a team.