Customer Reviews

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff at Work

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Let me first express that I typically have great condescension for most "self-help"-type books. Most of them seem very intent on getting one to do yoga or meditation or breathing exercises....activities I'm just not naturally inclined to do. This book, in contrast, suggests improved perspectives and outlooks. So, it is "intellectual" in that way, rather than the typical "touchy-feely." It provides gentle, insightful wisdom into modifying the only things you can control: your own outlook, your own behavior. Quite frankly, I'm very impressed by this Richard Carlson. This book was exactly what I needed to help me through a very negative phase of my career as a government lawyer, with bizarre stressors coming from every direction, including judges, opposing attorneys, and peers. I can't say this book made me glad that I became a lawyer, but it helped quell the storm. This book is written so that virtually anyone can understand it, and yet it contains brilliant insights and what I would have to almost call "ultimate truths." Some of them are so obvious that it's disconcerting I couldn't identify them by myself; others are more transcendental, and Carlson very sagely unveils the phenomenon and associated principles.

I think anyone in a stressful work environment would benefit from reading this book. I read it very closely and highlighted about half the book. I know it will take some time for me to assimilate all of the suggestions, but this book planted the seeds and should surely help me cope better in the future with work-related difficulties.

You should be forewarned: you'll probably realize a lot of your stress is self-induced. I found myself cringing with the sudden realization of several self-destructive behaviors which I've had through the years. I think you need to be particularly open to effectuating personal change and breaking out of bad habits. For example, I never previously thought of myself as a "back-stabber"; instead I thought of myself as a rhetorically amusing and insightful critic and identifier of "office realities." Carlson really sensitized me as to the need to be circumspect about any kind of negative commentary about others, bearing in mind that whatever one says about someone or something is inevitably going to be spun by office gossips into the most negative light conceivable. That results in tension and resentment and stress. I now try to reserve my commentary (usually humorous anecdotes) about co-workers, etc. to acquaintances far outside my office. He also really brought home to me the principle of the destructive effect of complaining and griping about one's job; all that is accomplished is that one's negative view is reinforced, emphasized, perhaps even exaggerated by those other parts of your mind that hear you complaining. It becomes a vicious, snow-balling cycle of discontent. I suspect a lot of people intuitively think of it as "ventilating" one's frustrations and being helpful as such. I try now to not complain (in my case it was about boredom and the lack of professional growth). This has freed me up to seek out a remedies both inside and outside my employment scenario.

But, I cite the above only as examples. Carlson lays his recommendations out in 100 small chapters. I would say I learned something very useful from about 80 of them. I am very confident the long-term professional benefits will be significant. We're living in a very stressful time and a stressful culture. Focusing on the art of managing stress is almost mandatory if you want to thrive.

I loved the format of this book, short, to the point chapters. I was able to summarize each chapter in one or two sentences at the top of the page and now I can refer back quickly to reinforce and destress easily. I admit to being a control person, a perfectionist, someone who cannot say no, with a difficult boss, in a customer service job this book solved lots of my problems !! I highly recommend it.

Make room on your desk at home and in the office for this little gem. It is crammed with words of wisdom, quick snip-its of advice, inside peeks in human nature, personal mantras to recite to yourself when the going gets rough. You won't want to read this one just once; rather, keep referring to it whenever the right circumstance presents itself. And don't loan it to a colleague, for you might never get it back. Buy them a copy of their own!

Dr. Carlson's book provides some keen insights on how to reduce stress when employeed by a large corporation, or for those shackled to a cubicle for eight hours at a go. While helpful overall, the book is less beneficial to those employeed in the retail sector or other public service areas, where dealing with cranky customers and unmotivated staff seems to be the prevailing problems.

I've read this and another 2 books written by Richard Carlson (with his wife as a contributor), and I felt like I was listening to a good friend.

We all need healthier habits to survive in such a fast paced world. Richard shares his view of many stupid habits we have (excuse my language: I meant negative mental and/or emotional habits that "we let happen"), at the same time showing how simple to change or discard them. Since I believe it's all in our hands (most of the times), I say it's never too late to pay attention to his great advises, and start improving your life today!

Very light and positive thinking.

I think too many people in the psychology profession are snobby when it comes to analyzing social science works adored by the general public. If the books or writers become too successful then they are dismissed as being "pop." This certainly has been the case with my peers in regards to the Dr. Richard Carlson "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff" series. They could not be more wrong, however. This particular offering is a monograph of considerable value. Other than this primer, I had only read the original, "...and it's all small stuff", edition. I found that, while the majority of his observations might not strike one as pure genius, they are steeped in common sense and are quite insightful.

The theme here is "you be the adult." Even if your co-workers are acting like a bunch of ignorant sixth graders, you must rise above it. You're better than that. You'll forgive, work, and move on. Office politics is a fleeting and shallow endeavor. Keep your eyes on what you want in life. Many of those around you will be forgotten in a few years time and there's no reason to obsess over their opinions. They don't matter and, while you should be as kind and friendly as is possible, your long-term goals and aspirations are what counts. With annoying and dominant co-workers, when you lose your temper you tranfer power to them and give them the satisfaction that they have been looking for. Being above the frey is the last thing they want, but that's exactly where you should be.

One of my favorite things that Dr. Carlson argues is that being relaxed and comfortable is essential to job performance and productivity. Further, there is nothing lazy or shameful about being in a good mood while on the clock. Do you help the company or institution by walking around like a grump so people have to proofread continuously what they're about to say to you? Certainly not. The wisdom is this book is not complex but it's not something that you will automatically figure out on your own.

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff at Work is written in the same style as his other texts. It is extremely reader friendly as it is small and fits into a coat pocket. There are 284 pages which are efficiently broke up into 100 chapters. It won't take long to read, but, if you're like me and have had lots of difficulties dealing with the emotional baggage of others during your career, you will savor it for a long while. Dr. Carlson did us a great service by examining this subject.

Much of the stress we experience comes not from the workplace but from our reactions to our workplace. Most of Carlson's little book focuses on how we need to change our attitudes in order to minimize stress. For instance, work should be seen as something that we get to do rather than something that we have to do. Enjoy life now--don't wait for retirement!

Problems should be seen as speed bumps to negotiate gracefully, not barriers to be resented. One should recognize that life is full of hassles, and that these should be handled in stride. One should lay off the ego, because constant comparison with others will only raise one's stress. Workplace meetings, instead of being stewed at as unnecessary or boring, should be seen as challenges to learn something new.

Carlson also gives some practical pointers for minimizing work-related stress. For instance, if we feel hurried in the morning, we should get up earlier to give us more time to get ready for work. Long commutes to work, instead of being hated as a waste of time, should be profitably spent listening to books on tape. To avoid the stress caused by constant phone calls, we should have a "no phone" time when we don't answer the phone. Voice mail should be used more often. To dissipate general stress, we should spend ten minutes each day doing absolutely nothing. And, since vacation trips themselves can be stressful, we should spend more of our vacations puttering around at home or visiting local events and places.

I've enjoyed the other Don't Sweat the Small Stuff Books and thought this book would be helpful in helping me to reduce some of my stress at work. I find that almost all of the suggestions assume an office type of atmosphere and aren't really well suited to my work enviroment - a high paced retail enviroment. Making use of break times is nice if you get breaks, i.e. I just found the book sort of narrowly targeted to a certain type of worker.

I strongly recommend this book because it puts all of our work challenges in perspective and gives us solutions to deal with everyday madness. It is easy to read and offers useful advice that transcends our work and personal lives.

For additional advice on coping and getting the job done from the manager's and team member's perspective, I also recommend the highly regarded book "The Leader's Guide: 15 Essential Skills."

How often have you said "I have to go to work"? Not, I want to.., but I have to. It's the mindset of the slave, whether slave to a boss, a deadline, a stack of bills, or a self-image. Richard Carlson, in his sensible, smart, and kind way, helps to break those bonds. Applying the strategies and principles in each brief chapter will result in true self-esteem, effective interpersonal relations, and higher levels of productivity more effectively achieved. Similar principles are explained in other expert sources, such as Intentional Living: Lessons from the Tree of Life