5 Things General Contractors Can Do Today To Reduce Stress
The Construction industry is among the most stressful industries in the world.
Between tight deadlines, compliance paperwork, subcontractor issues, and cash flow delays, it’s no surprise that general contractors face high levels of stress.
In fact, a study by the Chartered Institute of Building found that 70% of construction professionals experience stress-related mental health issues, with workload and time pressure cited as top causes.
In this blog, we’ll explore five practical ways general contractors can reduce stress right away, whether or not you’re using technology.
We’ll also highlight how platforms like SuperConstruct, the best construction management software, can help take those wins even further by streamlining the most time-consuming parts of project management.
1. Organize Your Pay App Schedule
How it’s typically done:
Most general contractors still manage pay applications manually.
Subs send over G703s in PDF or Excel format via email. GCs print, review, validate with spreadsheets, and forward to accounting.
Lien waivers and payment dates are often tracked separately, or not at all, and deadline management relies heavily on individual calendars.
Do this today:
Use a centralized checklist and a shared calendar to track each stage of the pay app cycle, submission, review, approval, and lien waiver collection. Assign
responsibilities and set automated calendar alerts.
This will help reduce the chaos, but it still depends heavily on manual follow-up and coordination.
Scale it with tech:
Tools like shared calendars and task lists are great for structuring your pay app cycle.
But if you’re ready to take the guesswork, delays, and back-and-forth out of the equation altogether, SuperConstruct’s Pay App Automation makes it effortless.
With auto-generated G702/G703 forms, integrated lien waivers, and real-time notifications, you stay on schedule and in control, every pay period.
A 2024 PBMares report found that 82% of contractors now wait over 30 days for payment, up from just 49% two years ago.
2. Create a Change Order Log
How it’s typically done:
Most teams track change orders in Excel or Word documents that are emailed between stakeholders.
Often, updates are missed, approvals aren’t logged, and field teams are unaware of changes. This leads to confusion, disputes, and rework.
Do this today:
Setting up a shared spreadsheet to log change orders, along with scope details, cost impacts, and approval status, can go a long way in improving visibility and keeping your team aligned.
Just be mindful that it still relies on manual updates, which can occasionally lead to missed information if not closely managed.
Scale it with tech:
A spreadsheet log helps bring visibility to change orders, but if you want a system that automatically routes approvals, tracks impacts on your SOV, and updates stakeholders instantly, SuperConstruct’s Change Order Software delivers clarity at scale.
It ensures your budget accurately reflects reality and reduces the risk of misalignment.
According to the Construction Industry Institute, rework accounts for up to 12% of total construction costs and remains one of the top risks to project profitability.
You can also read: 4 Ways Construction Management Software Boosts Productivity.
3. Track RFIs Visibly
How it’s typically done:
RFIs are often submitted through email or written in jobsite notebooks.
Some GCs use spreadsheets to track status, but it’s hard to know what’s resolved and what’s pending, especially when multiple projects are running.
Do this today:
Using a shared document or whiteboard to track active RFIs, along with the owner, status, and due dates, is a great way to create transparency and keep teams aligned.
Assigning clear ownership and reviewing the log regularly ensures everything stays on track and nothing gets missed.
Scale it with tech:
Whiteboards and shared docs work for tracking RFIs when teams are small and questions are few.
But as projects scale, SuperConstruct’s RFI Management brings unmatched structure, accountability, and searchability.
Every RFI is logged, linked, and accessible when you need it, with reminders and history built in.
4. Document Field Activity Daily
How it’s typically done:
Superintendents record notes in paper notebooks, send daily updates via text or email, and save photos in phone galleries or shared folders.
While this captures some data, it lacks structure and is rarely accessible when you need it.
Do this today:
Start using a Google Form or a shared document to systemize reporting, including weather, progress updates, crew size, and photos .
This builds habit and consistency, but it’s still hard to search or share efficiently.
Scale it with tech:
Creating consistent field logs with a shared format is a huge step toward better documentation.
To go further, SuperConstruct’s Daily Logs App captures every photo, note, and inspection from the field, then organizes them instantly.
This ensures fewer errors, faster reporting, and easy coordination across your team.
According to Canadian Consulting Engineer, 25% of construction delays stem from inaccurate paperwork and conflicting document versions.
5. Centralize Subcontractor Docs
How it’s typically done:
W9s, insurance certs, and lien waivers are collected piecemeal by email and saved in folders or hard drives.
Expiration dates are tracked in spreadsheets, if at all. Missing or expired documents often delay payments and approvals.
Do this today:
Make a shared folder for every subcontractor and place a checklist of documents that must be included. Manually check and update it before each payout.
While better than email chaos, this method is still reactive and hard to scale across multiple projects.
Scale it with tech:
Shared folders and checklists are a solid foundation for managing subcontractor docs.
When you’re ready to go hands-free, SuperConstruct’s Subcontractor Management automates document tracking, digital signatures, and compliance checks, all with zero follow-up.
Everything’s verified, time-stamped, and audit-ready.
SuperConstruct users report 85% fewer document errors and 75% cost savings from eliminating paper and manual workflows.
Recap: Stress Less, Build Smarter
Reducing stress doesn’t require a full system overhaul, but if you want to save hours each week, improve payment timelines, and stop chasing paperwork,
SuperConstruct is your shortcut to peace of mind.
👉 Sign up now and get a 90-day free trial, no commitment.