It is common to hear that people are stressed at work, yet stress management is not discussed. Especially as we enter the Holiday season, stress is a clear factor. Being passive to the effects of stress leads to burnout, health complications, and far more.
Fear not, there is hope around the corner through emotional and practical development.
The NOISH Report found that 40% of workers report their job being very to extremely stressful.
Manage Stress with Emotional Intelligence
Be Aware
Self-Awareness is knowing what you are doing and why you are doing it.
Utilizing Emotional Intelligence reduces emergencies and thoughtless decisions. In fast environments, self-awareness is sacrificed first.
- Write it Out. Write down a list of stress triggers and keep it in the office. Common stresses are social media, emails, negative feedback, and missing deadlines.
- Utilize Covey’s Quadrant. Limit the unnecessary with categorizing items into Covey’s Quadrant. Be ready to make a clear decision to stop certain tasks in order to create a manageable workload.
Act
Self-Management occurs through developing Self-Awareness and implementing change to manage stress effectively and naturally.
- The Cup is Half Full. Focus on goals and growth to develop endurance in work. The celebration of milestones generates a business culture of success and momentum.
- Do not be a “checker.” The American Psychological Association (APA) discovered that people who habitually check their phone, inboxes, and media experience greater levels of continual stress than “non-checkers.” Turn off the phone in key work bursts.
- Sleep is a Necessity. Speed and accuracy of decision-making increase with a recommended 7 to 8 hours of sleep. Sleep is not a luxury it is a necessity.
“For years I kept my phone on vibrate. At times, I would feel the vibration on my hip, but I didn’t have my phone on. This past summer I put my phone on silent. I was amazed that I physically felt a difference. I felt more relaxed and after some time stopped having a false sense of vibration on my hip.” – Dr. Merlin Switzer, Founder & CEO, Switzer Associates Leadership Solutions
Practical Culture Development:
1. Take Breaks
- Go on a walk, call a friend, get coffee – Something that relaxes you. Allotting breaks will lessen tension.
- Ping Pong is an easy investment de-stress in the office for the combination of physical exertion and team connections.
2. Seek Support
- Listen to your trusted employees, coaches, and advisers. Humble yourself to seek growth by listening.
- Find a business leader gathering and consistently attend. Vulnerability and relations between leaders will draw support and relief.
“That’s part of why getting support from peers or from a business adviser is beneficial to get perspective. When you can be with other CEOs, presidents and leaders, and you can share with them what is going on their organization.” -Forbes
3. Value Yourself
- Maximizing nutrition and drinking water lessens exhaustion and allows the human body to manage stress more effectively.
- Exercise releases endorphins and allows the mind to process. Stress will decrease with creating a regular exercise routine.
For the Faith Oriented:
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
- https://www.stress.org/stress-research/
- https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/296698
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/aileron/2016/10/18/how-to-deal-with-stress-tips-for-small-business-owners/#17930afd2d62
- https://hbr.org/2017/12/break-the-cycle-of-stress-and-distraction-by-using-your-emotional-intelligence