Stress is part of everyday life, and is perfectly normal. This does not mean however that it is healthy or inevitable! A recent survey indicated that more than three-quarters of working men and women say they'd gladly trade some of their income for more time flexibility to have a personal life. For today's executive the pressures of the modern world can be overwhelming!
Recent evidence however suggests that stress can be counterproductive. In a London Business School study more than 100 executives in over 20 countries, were surveyed to determine the key characteristics and attributes that potential executives need. 'Managers who are less prone to stress and more focused on personal development make better leaders.'
Above all else, the research indicates that candidates need to be 'more thoughtful, more aware, more flexible, more adaptive managers'. It's more important for leaders to be more people-focused than content-focused.
There are however four basic strategies, gathered from executive coaches who regularly work with high-pressured executives, that are worthwhile taking note of:
First, exercise. A brisk walk at lunchtime will do the trick (or any other exercise for at least 30 minutes per day). Significant benefits include cardiovascular health, mental agility, increased HDL (good cholesterol), and a lower tendency to let a complicated situation become a stressful one.
Second, maintain healthy relationships. Research shows that resilience in the workplace is derived mostly from strong, encouraging relationships outside of work.
Third, get centred. When hard-working executives do not take time for introspection, their performance, and ultimately, that of the company is undercut. Dr. Harold Bloomfield observed in his book The Power of 5: 'It's no accident that the word deadline contains the word dead; the human body is not well-suited to time-struggle.'
Fourth, keep perspective. Many high-level career failures are due to the inability of stressed leaders to look at things in perspective and make informed decisions. Work-life balance is clearly important and one's career need to be part of the 'bigger picture' that includes time for playing, relaxing, creating and, of course, plenty of laughter.
Insufficient exercise, drinking too much or becoming a control freak can lead to a slippery slope that makes the pressure worse and the workload seem unachievable. Mental agility declines, while the view that the outside world doesn't want to help, or isn't up to the job, increases. The reaction is actually creating the problem. It can be either a vicious or virtuous circle!
When executives follow basic stress management rules they are able to increase their control enough to keep up with the competition as well as living joyful and balanced lives.
The only thing standing between you and a higher level of general well-being is the unpreventable occurrence of stress. Daily stress can rob us of our potential, weakening every aspect of our lives. Consider the following:
* Stress breaks down the efficiency of the immune system leaving our bodies vulnerable to illness and disease.
* Stress causes heart problems and high blood pressure.
* Stress contributes to addictive behavior, causing alcoholism, eating disorders, nicotine addiction, and workaholic tendencies.
* Stress causes social withdrawal, perpetuating symptoms and leading to destructive isolation.
To avoid stress and related symptoms you must be proactive, nurturing your body and mind through a balanced diet, exercise, and reserved time for relaxation.
A Balanced Diet - We know that a balanced diet can improve your health, but can it really do anything for your stress level? Experts say it can. Research has found that good nutrition has a tremendous impact on our ability to ward off the damage stress can do to our systems. Sure, you'll still feel tense, but with your body nutritionally armed for battle, you'll handle things better. There are many things you can do to maximize your body's fighting power.
One of the most significant things you can do is to reduce the amounts sugar and white flour in your diet. Sugar and white flour cause a host of problems you could do without. By reducing these items in your diet, you will be able to maintain better weight control, reduce the risk of heart disease, and increase your energy level. Why? Because items made with these products metabolize too fast in your blood system. The result is unhealthy spikes in your blood sugar, rapid depletion of energy, and damaging stress symptoms.
Exercise - In addition to eating right, exercise can be a tremendous help in fighting stress. As you get moving, your circulation delivers oxygen and nutritional elements throughout your body. The result is muscle relaxation, the release of mood elevating chemicals, and a strengthened immune system. Studies show that those who exercise regularly are less likely to suffer from stress related illness.
Relaxation. When your body relaxes, it reverses stress symptoms. You experience a sense of control as you eliminate the feelings of helplessness that often accompany stress. Find that one thing that really helps you to kick back and forget about things for a while. Here are some suggestions:
- Catering to our senses, such as sight, smell, and sound can reduce anxiety. So put on some favorite music, keep fresh cut flowers in view, and sink into a warm bubble bath.
- Reduce the clutter in your life. Passing a stack of papers as you leave for work, tripping over boxes, or stuffing a breakfast plate into a sink of dirty dishes, creates underlying tension that acts as a fuse when something gets you fired up.
- Deal head-on with anything that has been bothering you. Ignoring problems won't make them go away--resolving them will.
- Get a good night's sleep. Your body needs this time to heal and ?reboot? in preparation for the next day's challenges. Deny this basic need and you drain all of your systems of their strength.
Good nutrition, exercise, and learning to enjoy life will help you ward off dangerous stress symptoms. It's important that you take steps now to ensure a healthy future. That is why I dedicate several sections of my ebook series, A Balanced Approach to Health, to teaching you how to reduce the levels of stress in your life, instantly improving your quality of life. You'll learn: How to cope rather than stress, 13 affirmations to move beyond stress and its impacts, how to become a relaxation guru, and much more.
Both Alain Tanugi & Paul Duxbury are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Alain Tanugi has sinced written about articles on various topics from Stress Management. TRANSEARCH International (. Alain Tanugi's top article generates over 720 views. to your Favourites.
Paul Duxbury has sinced written about articles on various topics from Puppies Dogs, Wedding Bells and Home Businesses. Paul is Head of Training for a major UK Charitable Organisation with a wealth of experience in personal development, management development, e-learning and operational management. In addition to owning one of the UK's leading Ebook Provider. Paul Duxbury's top article generates over 49500 views. to your Favourites.