MY COLLEAGUE STRESSES ME OUT

Q There’s a woman at work who stresses me out. We have the same job, but she is disorganised, always late and misses deadlines. I’m always suggesting things, but this makes her worse, and she often snaps back at me. She makes me feel anxious. Help.

A While you don’t have control of work situations, you can choose how to respond, which will help to reduce conflict and stress. Try to see that by giving unwanted advice, you are adding to her anxiety (and yours). You need to step back, stop looking at what she’s doing and change your focus.