James Baldwin once said: Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it is faced. Have you heard the quote that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger? Became a popular phrase in a hit song recently also. We can attribute the phrase to Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. Negative experiences can toughen us though, can’t they? They do often help us manage stressful events. But at what cost? Even when we feel like we’re capable of doing it all, stress and worry can take its toll on our health and performance. Let’s examine deadly work mistakes we should pay closer attention to so as to not elevate your stress.
To truly improve operations, you need to get at root causes and you do that by asking “why?”Why do we think that gas turbines are a good business to bet the company’s future? Why do we think cutting labor costs is the best way to improve margins? What would be the counter-argument?
What other options do we have? Our brains are wired to look to the past, not the future. We develop mindsets so that we can make decisions quickly, without having to pause to examine every aspect of our lives. That’s why it’s so important to take time to test our assumptions, expose ourselves to dissenting opinions and push ourselves to see things in a new light.
Related: If You Are Demotivating the Team Here’s the Action to Take
Too focused on negative events about the day
I tell my wife a positive aspect of my day instead of just jumping into the negative. It helps to change the mood of the evening. I also leave my cell phone at home when I go out to dinner with family and friends.
There is nothing worse than getting a bad client email on Friday evening while you are trying to unwind.
Not breaking up the work cycles
Chances are you may be stuck to your desk. Especially if you’re in a home office it can be lonely, dreary, etc.
I love having fun things around like great snacks, my dog, Nerf guns, holiday decorations, and even candles for stressful days. It’s all about making your space comfy and relaxing for you.
Stop having fun breaks. I stop every hour or so to play with the dog, throw darts, stretch, etc.
No attention to health maintenance
Two years ago, I started walking at lunch to help eliminate stress. It didn’t take long for my neck pain and constant headaches to virtually disappear.
Exercise does something to reset you mentally, and it improves your creativity and outlook with very little effort. I now build a 5k walk into my schedule two or three times per week.
Someone suggested this to me, which seemed crazy to me at the time. Who wants to think about exercise when they are already exhausted and stressed out?
However this year I’ve made it a priority to exercise at least 2-3 times a week and not only am I healthier, but I’ve also noticed a huge change in my attitude as well.
Not getting a good night’s sleep
Hopefully, you’ve managed to de-stress enough to fall off to sleep when bedtime rolls around. Try to have a regular bedtime routine that helps you fall asleep quickly.
Make your bedroom as comfy as possible. If you need the absolute dark to sleep well, invest in blackout shades for the windows.
If you need total quiet, put in earplugs before trying to fall asleep. Set the heat or air conditioning to the perfect temp for restful sleep.
Nothing will relieve your stress and help you be ready to face the next workday like a blissful night’s sleep!
Not paying attention to emotion
Go on a ‘genius date!’ An example of a genius date is visiting an art exhibit, taking a dance class or attending a lecture and connecting with a genius outside of your industry.
I go on weekly Kizomba dancing genius dates because they help me connect with my own genius and inspire new ideas for my business while reducing stress.
No variation in your environment
On stressful days, I like to get out of the work environment and take a short walk outside.
I’ll try to appreciate the beauty around me, such as the flowers or nice architectural design.
Then to calm down and get rid of the stress at the end of a busy day, I’ll take a long hot shower then meditate before bed.
When I have more time I like to get together with friends to laugh and socialize.
Letting the email insanity take over
One of the biggest things that stress me out is a constantly growing email inbox.
I find that it’s easy for me to spend hours on email, only to find that, 1) I’ve made little progress, and 2) I could have spent the time on the bigger (and more important) projects.
By turning off my phone and signing out of my email, I’m able to work productively and with lower blood pressure.
Operating with no action plan
Some people may think to-do lists will add stress because it reminds them of all of the work they have to do.
But for me, when I take 30 minutes to plan out a detailed to-do list for the week on a Sunday evening it actually shows me that I can accomplish it all.
It helps to reassure me that there is no reason to be overwhelmed. Sometimes putting it all on the table makes tasks more achievable and less daunting.
Not thinking ahead
You always have to have a plan B and C, because if things go wrong clients and customers won’t want to hear excuses.
They just want results! This alleviates stress because if you hit a bump in the road, you know there’s back-up to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Not establishing proper perspectives
Before reacting, I try to think about where the other person is coming from and how I can help alleviate their stress.
Seeing the situation as an opportunity to serve someone instead of as a fire to put out will drastically change the dynamics, lower stress levels and in most cases result in a positive outcome for both parties.
Not taking small breaks
Take five minutes to go outside, appreciate the outdoors, nice weather, and breathe in some fresh air. You can feel the stress disappear.
Then go back to your desk and take a new approach to your stressful situation with a more positive outlook.
Not collaborating with others
First, find a reliable and trustworthy team who can get things done. In my first business, I tried to do it all myself — that doesn’t work.
Second, whether it be family or friends, make sure you have a very good support structure.
Whenever one of us is at a boiling point and feels extremely stressed, our founding team members get together and we talk through it.
We all have individual tasks and responsibilities to stress over, but we’ve found that continually keeping each other in the loop and talking about them seems to have a very positive calming effect and brings in a natural reality check.
Not setting expectations
Always set realistic expectations for customers at the very start. This will save you a lot of anxiety and worry in the long run.
It is better to “over-communicate.”
But when I get super stressed you will find me practicing yoga or at the dog park — both activities put me at ease instantly.
Limited work/life balance
Probably my worst sin. Will you work hard, stay up late, wake up early, and push yourself mentally and physically if you are passionate about your business?
Yes, of course, you will. Therefore, make sure that personal time is a part of your schedule.
Make appointments with yourself and keep them. Exercise, meditation, family time, even (healthy) eating can and should be in your calendar as an appointment, just like everything else that is important in your day.
Not leaving work at the office
Literally and figuratively. You may have to bring home paperwork (or what passes for paperwork in the digital age) at times, but don’t do it every night.
Try to force yourself to do this just once or twice a week. Most importantly, don’t rehash your workday in your mind when you’re away from the office.
The bottom line
What do you think? Do you recognize any of these deadly work mistakes? Ones that elevate your stress?
It starts with facing and recognizing the issues, doesn’t it? No changes until you acknowledge the issues.
