Productivity & stress management

 




Introduction 


Our modern lives naturally include stress. Monthly bills arrive, kids' activities last all year, and work never seems to calm down. It's inevitable to experience some stress, yet it can frequently be beneficial. 


You become smarter, happier, and healthier as a result of stress, which also drives you to meet your everyday obstacles and accomplish your goals. That's accurate. Good living requires healthy stress


Despite the fact that it might seem impossible, there are things you can do to reduce stress at work and at home and restore control.



Important of stress Management 


Your overall health is at danger if you are under a lot of stress every day. Both your physical and mental well-being are negatively impacted by stress. Your capacity to think clearly, work well, and have fun is reduced. It could appear like there is nothing you can do to relieve tension. There will never be more hours in the day, the bills won't stop flowing in, and your work and family obligations will always be demanding. However, you are much more in control than you might realize. 


In order to be happier, healthier, and more productive, effective stress management enables you to release the grip that stress has on your life. A balanced life with time for work, relationships, relaxation, and fun is the ultimate goal. Resilience is also important.


Ways to Stay Productive When You’re Stressed



Manage Technology


 According to Maura Thomas, a trainer and expert on work-life balance and individual and corporate productivity, "constant distraction is the new normal." In reality, COVID-19 is merely the most recent distraction in a world filled with constant distractions. The secret, according to her, is to manage our technology while managing our attention: Remove social apps from your phone and turn off notifications. Increase your use of off mode and airplane. Install browser add-ons and website blocking software to set time limits for visiting particular websites and to lock you out when that time has passed.


Taking Refreshing Breaks 


Author of numerous time-management books such as "Off the Clock: Feel Less Busy While Getting More Done," Laura Vanderkam, advises making a daily schedule that incorporates pauses with genuinely restorative activities. This could involve anything from going for a stroll to practicing guided meditation. Without planned pauses, she advises, "you'll take kids to read the news—and then you'll simply start feeling nervous again.


Prioritize the Goals 


Refocus "on what you care about in your work" when your attention wanders to uncertainties and worries about what might occur, advises Clark. Consider the overarching goal of each endeavor. How will your initiative benefit the general public or your clients? What do you hope to accomplish at this meeting? What can you take out from this text? How do you develop?


Use the self-care triangle 


No matter where it comes from, anxiety is draining, according to Clark. Sleep, nutrition, and exercise, the self-care trifecta, are especially important for enhancing our "mental and physical stamina." This includes eating nutrient-dense foods, exercising when you can, and getting 7.5 to 9 hours of sleep each night, according to her.


Practice self-compassion 


Laura Torres, LPC, a mental health counselor in North Carolina, highlights the importance of expressing your anxiety and showing support and empathy. Say to yourself, "Of course this is taking me longer to do—I'm anxious," for example. It's acceptable to say, "It's okay that I didn't finish that assignment" or "It's okay that I'm feeling stressed out." If you're having trouble coming up with a self-compassionate statement, think about how you'd reassure a scared child.


Put forth Your Best Efforts 


Do you generally work best in the mornings or the afternoons? Make sure you're putting your best effort towards moving your tasks along. Avoid squandering your day's peak energy periods on unrelated activities, whether they are Coronavirus-related or not, advises Clark.


Use deep breathing exercises 


According to Torres, when we experience worry and panic, our nervous system activates the fight-or-flight response, which depletes the parts of our brain that help us be effective and productive. Deep breathing exercises should be done numerous times a day to help your body understand that you are safe and to activate the parasympathetic nervous system.




What distinguishes constructive stress from destructive stress?



When we hear the word "stress," our first impressions of it are negative. You typically do everything you can to deal with it, which may include sleeping, exercising, or engaging in meditation. 


Unfortunately, a lot of people are unaware of the fact that we actually need a healthy level of stress in our daily lives. Simply put, "stress" is what propels and inspires us to carry out our daily tasks and advance in life. In essence, this suggests that managing stress effectively involves understanding the distinction between "productive" and "unproductive" stress rather than trying to completely eliminate it from our life.


What do we mean by "productive" stress? 


More than we may even realize, stress is a part of everyone's life to some extent. As a result, it's critical to work to promote a positive conception of what "productive" stress is. 


Productive stress encourages us to work harder and more attentively, which enables us to produce unexpectedly effective results. When a deadline is approaching or you are getting ready for an interview, you could experience feelings of stress and anxiety. When you are in this attitude, your brain automatically switches to "productive mode," enabling you to finish your tasks as quickly as possible. It resembles receiving an adrenaline rush when under pressure.


What exactly is "unproductive" stress, then? 


Stress that is unproductive is different. It can be described as a form of emotional tension brought on by having many distinct things happen at once. Your body may become worn out, you may feel overwhelmed and burn out more, which will damage your immune system. Eventually, this might result in anxiety and sadness. 


This can seriously harm your life, causing you to develop negative habits like overeating, smoking, and feeling exhausted. Unproductive stress can have an influence on your health, making it more difficult to lose weight and weakening your immune system. 



How are the two stresses to be handled? 


We can tell from neuroscience that there is a perfect amount of stress that an individual should experience in order to be productive. This means that if you're not under any kind of pressure or stress, you simply won't perform at your best. 


The prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain responsible for rational thought, is known to start losing its functionality if you endure high levels of stress or excessive amounts of stress. Additionally, the amygdala, the brain region in charge of your fight-or-flight reaction, ceases to function, making it impossible to distinguish between a life-threatening crisis and minor issues.


How to Lower Unhealthy Stress 


When stress begins to rule your life, it becomes a problem. The secret to stress management is recognizing the negative stressors in your life and creating constructive coping mechanisms for them. Seven healthful techniques to reduce stress are provided by Summa Health.


Reduce stress wherever you can


A good place to start is to practice saying "no," reduce your to-do list, and stay away from people who make you anxious. Your stress level will decrease as soon as you discover how to better manage your time.


Recognize that some things are beyond your control. 


There are aspects of life that are out of your control, including other people's actions. Focus on what you can manage and how you respond to the issue rather than worrying about the things you have no control over. By doing so, you are using your energy in a more productive way.


Adopt a cheerful outlook


Positive attitudes can help overcome challenging circumstances, whilst negative ideas might result in negative conduct. Make an effort to think optimistically by seeking the positive in every circumstance, whether you want to grow personally by huge obstacles or learn from your failures. Additionally, changing your viewpoint involves reflecting on all the wonderful aspects of your life, including your own.


Get assistance


Turn to family and friends for support or a professional. Putting your feelings into words can be cathartic. Additionally, it's crucial to express your emotions rather than holding them inside because doing so can make you feel more stressed.


Include relaxation exercises in your daily routine


Relaxation improves general health and allows you to take a break and unwind. Exercises like deep breathing, meditation, or even yoga can be used to achieve this without requiring a significant time investment.


Stay fit and healthy


Maintaining an active lifestyle and eating a balanced diet help your body be better equipped to handle stress. Exercise improves mood while calming the body and mind. In fact, it has been established that physical activity is essential for preventing and minimizing the consequences of stress.


Have a restful night's sleep


It's crucial to get adequate sleep since it provides your body time to recover from stressful situations and prepares you for taking on new tasks the following day.



Why do we experience stress? 


It's crucial to understand where tension originates before we can develop stress management techniques. People typically experience stress for one of two reasons: either we believe the situation to be challenging or dangerous, or we believe we lack the resources or aptitude to handle it.



Which techniques could be used to manage stress 


cognitive techniques 


Resting or sleeping 

Using your time wisely 

overcoming negative perceptions 

Action-focused tactics 


Activities that promote self-care include hobbies and spending time with loved ones. 

Physical exercise 

using the Wellness Lounge, mentoring programs, or counseling services 

using relaxation methods like deep breathing and meditation 

Emotional intelligence techniques 


talking openly to a trusted person 

Creating sound limits by developing the ability to refuse 

Laughing 

Keeping a journal of your ideas Attending support group meetings



Conclusion 


Effective task management is the best strategy for reducing stress at work. To achieve this, start with the more challenging assignments. Putting off more difficult duties may seem like a good idea at the time, but it negatively impacts how you handle work-related stress. 


Larger projects cast a huge shadow over all the other tasks you need to finish each day. When a larger job is neglected, it is normal to see subpar performance on minor projects. 


When complex activities are finished first, it is simpler to concentrate on lesser, simpler jobs without being concerned about a crucial deadline. Such acts increase your output on brief but important jobs in a beneficial way.



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