Chapter 2 Stress and Time Management
May 6, 2026 • 18:13
Chapter 2, “Stress and Time Management,” addresses the critical need for social workers to maintain their own well-being to remain effective and avoid burnout within macro environments. This episode explains the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS), which traces the comprehensive process of stress through three stages: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion. We identify common agency stressors—such as role ambiguity, heavy workloads, and inadequate work settings—and discuss their potential physiological, psychological, and behavioral consequences. To combat these issues, we explore stress-management strategies like Albert Ellis’s ABCDE theory for reframing irrational thinking, alongside relaxation techniques, mindfulness, and exercise. The discussion also highlights the link between poor time management and increased stress, offering practical tools like time-tracking, goal prioritization (the ABC method), and effective delegation. Finally, we examine the roots of procrastination and provide actionable tactics for overcoming it, such as breaking large tasks into manageable steps and tackling the most difficult jobs first.