BLITZING Can you get through “Crunch Times” without getting squeezed? I’ll never forget the summer of 2002.  My twin sister and I were celebrating a milestone birthday on August 20th.  In mid-June, I decided to make her a special gift to mark the occasion.  That decision took over my life for the next two months!  My sister and I have always been close.  For one of our special birthdays (the ones that end with zero) I made her a photo album of her entire life.  For the next round number birthday, I made her a music “album” – 50 songs, from the time we were kids to her latest favorites.  That left only one option for the next big birthday:  a video album of her life.  I knew this was a major undertaking – and I’d left it a tad late –  but I was determined to see it through. The summer was a blur.  I looked up old friends to reminisce about school days and summer camps.  I took pictures of houses we lived in, schools we attended and landmark buildings from our childhood.   To make matters worse, I was going all over Toronto in the middle of the Pope’s visit – so there were road closures and other complications.  It was hot and muggy and I was shlepping my camera equipment around town on public transit and on foot.  Then there was the massive job of editing, adding music and special effects.  Fortunately, I had help from a brilliant collaborator named Mark Woollard. There are times when we have momentous tasks ahead of us.  Some of these are work-related:  accountants at tax season, doctors during flu season, retailers before Christmas; corporate year-end and annual general meetings; starting a new business.  Other examples include studying for final exams, building a deck, moving into your first house. preparing a major art exhibit or stage play; writing a university thesis or working on a political campaign.  They all involve a tremendous amount of time, effort and energy compressed into a finite period of time.  I call it “Blitzing”.    Here are some suggestions to help you handle these intense situations, allowing you to operate effectively but still keep your stress level down.   Think three words: Pacing, Perspective and Permission. PACING Plan the project in advance.  Write out a schedule with times for each part. Clear the decks.  Set aside all discretionary work that is not related to the major task.  Make this project your sole priority. Assemble the resources you’ll need.   Arrange for help as needed. Take time outs.  No one can do high concentration or physically demanding work for hours on end.  Regular breaks of even 5-10 minutes will help clear your head, reduce your stress and restore your energy. Avoid long hours.  12 and 14-hour days lead to exhaustion and inefficiency.  9 or 10 hours of solid work will serve you better.  Sometimes less is more.  Take at least 1 day off each week for diversion, distraction and decompression.  PERSPECTIVE Remind yourself that you’re here by choice – i.e. you picked this project or  line of work.  Blitz times go with the territory. You’re not alone.  Your colleagues, classmates, family members, etc., are in the same boat. It’s time-limited – most of the stress will end at a defined point in time, (for example, accountants at tax season circle that delicious date in April when life returns to normal.) I remind accountants that April is a good month to kiss away on work – it’s too  late to ski and too wet for golf.  You have all spring and summer to enjoy yourself.  Adapt this concept to your own season and situation. PERMISSION Give yourself permission to take care of yourself. Get adequate sleep.  It’s vital.  All the symptoms of sleep deprivation (fatigue,  decreased concentration, reduced short-term memory, irritability, depression) are all also symptoms of stress.  Lack of sleep impairs your efficiency, leading to mistakes in accuracy and judgement.  And the work takes longer. Maintain regular meals. Daily exercise is a great stress reliever.  Even though basic health habits are mundane and seem dispensable, they’re actually more important when you’re under pressure. Stay away from caffeine and other artificial stimulants – or use them in moderation. TWO OTHER TIPS Plan a vacation or something special to reward yourself after this grueling marathon. Start earlier next time so you can avoid the last minute sprint to the finish We still enjoy watching my sister’s video. It’s a priceless memento that was, for me, a labor of love.  But for our next milestone birthday, I think we’ll all just go on a cruise and leave the work at home!