While a court reporting career can be greatly rewarding, there are times when the responsibilities of the job can be stressful. This stress can be compounded by the added stress of balancing work life and family life. Every court reporter needs to develop ways of handling stress when levels are high. By having a plan in place for handling stressful situations, you are able to more quickly release the panicky feelings of overwhelm.
Handling Overwhelm
Some of the most overwhelming situations as a court reporter involve deadlines. For instance, you’ve worked all day on a very intense deposition. At the end of the day, you are now exhausted but know that soon you will go home and relax for the evening. This picture changes suddenly when one of the attorneys tells you they need the transcript ASAP, tomorrow if possible. You are immediately overwhelmed wondering how can you get all of these pages edited, proofread, and delivered by tomorrow. Panic sets in. Since you are already exhausted, your feelings of overwhelm are heightened.
As a court reporter, this is a common stressful situation. The good news is that, over time, you can develop coping skills that will allow you to overcome the overwhelm and quickly move to a solution. Here are some steps you can take to conquer the challenge.
1. Stop and take a breath.
As soon as you are alerted to the situation, take stock of what is required. Talk to the attorneys to discover if there is any possibility of extending the deadline, even if it is only a few hours. As a court reporter, we always want to deliver a transcript to attorneys on the deadline they request so they can do their job to the best of their ability. However, sometimes, after asking a few questions, you will discover that they are able to work with you and extend the time in which they must have the transcript in their hands. Every extra hour you can negotiate means a little less stress on you in preparing the transcript.
2. Prioritize and plan.
Once you know exactly how much time you have, sit down and estimate how long it will take you for each step of the process, including editing, proofreading, and delivery. Then make a schedule that sets forth exactly how much time you will use for each stage. By making a time schedule, you will be able to continually measure whether you are on target to deliver on time and make adjustments as necessary.
3. Enlist help.
Before beginning preparation of the transcript, think about whether there are any parts you can delegate. It is wise to have at least one scopist you can rely on in situations such as these. Now is the time to call them to help you with editing and/or proofreading in order to meet your deadline.
Do you need to enlist the help of your family to take care of home issues so that you can focus completely on your task? If a spouse or older child can pick up some of the duties for which you would typically be responsible, now is the time to talk to them and ask for their assistance and cooperation.
4. Get started.
Once you have outlined your plan, it is time to get started. Get comfortable and begin. Track your progress and check your schedule frequently to make sure you are on track to meet your deadline. This will help you stay focused and on task.
Feeling overwhelmed is often a temporary feeling. If you give yourself a few minutes to stop and breathe, this allows you to steady those feelings of panic and self-defeating thoughts. Once you take steps to make a plan, those feelings will begin to subside. Each step in the plan that you accomplish will get you closer to your goal of meeting your deadline and managing your stress level.