Tips for Sacking the Stress Slump
In business, any given day can be the best or the worst, and is often both. This effect is compounded in the grips of stress, and being the middle of the year, “stressed” is what most people are reporting to be.
With this in mind, 99FM’s MYD Smart spoke to successful Namibians in business, to find out what their tips are to overcome the mid-year stress slump and tackle the rest of the year with gusto.
Sacking the Stress Slump Tip 1 – Emotional Awareness
Self-awareness is something that can be cultivated. If you’re feeling stressed, take a moment to think about which situations tend to bring out your strongest negative emotions in you.
Emotional Intelligence has been linked to lower levels of work-related stress. The first step in becoming emotionally intelligent is becoming aware. Being aware of your feelings, what causes them and why, helps one to recognise stressors earlier and find coping mechanisms that assist.
Self-awareness is something that can be cultivated. If you’re feeling stressed, take a moment to think about which situations tend to bring out your strongest negative emotions in you. While we can’t always avoid the biggest stressors, with awareness we can develop coping mechanisms before the situation overwhelms us.
Sacking the Stress Slump Tip 2 – Pockets of Sunshine
“It’s not the number of hours you work that matters, it’s the value you produce during those hours.”
Considering how much time of our lives we spend working, it’s important to cultivate spaces and moments in our lives where we are not engaged in work or related activities. If we don’t take time to “switch off” we run the very serious risk of burnout. Being “always on” is a dangerous and unproductive mindset because it fails to take recovery time into account
According to 99FM’s Managing Partner, Fortune Kangueehi, “Its finding pockets over the weekend or during the day, I don’t completely switch off, but give myself a few pockets during the day where I do something that relaxes me.”
Being deliberate about your ‘gap’ time allows for the necessary rest and recharge, that even the best athletes know to be a key formula to success. After all it’s not the number of hours you work that matters, it’s the value you produce during those hours.
“Immersing yourself in tasks such as cooking, or taking a walk with the kids does wonders for your mental state. A restful weekend helps me to start my Monday with a clear head, but even daily restorative breaks are necessary. You have to take time to clear your mind otherwise it gets too much.” Says Fortune.
Sacking the Stress Slump Tip 1 – Disconnect to Reconnect
In today’s fast paced world, many people report having an exceptionally hard time disconnecting from work. A high-performance culture that requires consistent focus, or being “always on”, can create an unproductive mindset.
According to Nangula Uaandja, the Country Senior Partner of PwC Namibia, purposeful retreats are another appropriate stress buster. “You take a time out, somebody was telling me recently Nangula I think what you need to do is take off a Friday and go away for a weekend alone. Spend time in quietness and by the time you come back you will be energised and ready to face the next half of the year.” Says Nangula.
Purposeful retreats do not contain more stress, or create more stress, such as a trip that requires stressful travelling. With the help of the awareness of your emotions, to create purposeful retreat is to ensure your break away from work provides a space of sanctuary for yourself, in whatever that maybe.
For more reason’s to take a much needed break when you need to, read 99FM’s MYD Smart article, Why I Should Take a Break here
Written by Kirsty Watermeyer