How do you manage stress and burnout as an executive?

Detaching oneself from a stressful situation for a short time can help , this could be by going for a run ,spending some time away from work , meeting childhood pals , talking it out with someone who is a good listener or just spending time at a game or with kids All These could give a small break to the vicious stress cycle , rejuvenate oneself and get into the thick of things once more with renewed vigour

In our fast-paced world, self-awareness is key to combat stress. Reflect on daily experiences to identify triggers. Documenting patterns in a journal reveals hidden stressors. Prioritize by importance to focus efforts effectively. Self-awareness empowers me to manage stress and achieve balance. Focus can be hard but is crucial in this scenario.

Most of the times, understanding the root cause of the stress is a challenge. Nonverbal signals of our body is an amazing way to understand patterns of when we are getting stressed out, and addressing those problems as they arise so that one doesn't reach the burnout stage. How to address the stress comes later in the picture. Look for your body signalling to you when you feel uncomfortable - there are characteristic ways of understanding this. And once you recognise patterns, it will be easier to get to the root causes.

Sometimes, you actually can't identify the source first. ?? We need to pause, step back and look at things with a fresh perspective. Too often, though, we are so in the messy middle of it that we can't see things. ?? Create space weekly for self-reflection. A quiet space of even 15 minutes a week to ponder what's going on will help you to stop the whir of everything and see with a fresher perspective. Pausing is the first step!

Work stress is a state of physio-psychological imbalance that can lead to serious emotional and cognitive decompensation, it is a real and alarming phenomenon, the effects of job stress on executives can lead to physical and psychological health problems, as well as behavioral problems. If you assume too many responsibilities and commitments, in the end that has a cost. There have been few heroes and if they have been it is because they have been able to say no, better safe than sorry. Learning to say no is useful, it has to do with self-respect, you have to strike a balance between your personal goals and those of the company, knowing how to set limits.

Maintaining clear boundaries is essential for your wellbeing as an executive. These limits shield us from burnout by preventing work from permeating every facet of our lives. To set them skillfully, the first step is to define your non-negotiables – family time, self-care, etc. Communicate these with your team, fostering understanding and ensuring people aren't caught off gaurd. Secondly, embrace the power of "no." Politely decline tasks that overtax your bandwidth with little return. Lastly, lead by example – when you respect your own limits, others will follow suit. Remember, boundaries don't restrict, they liberate. They create space for balance, enabling us to be more present and effective in both our professional and personal lives.

I couldn’t agree more with everyone’s advice. As a Founder and mother of two young children, setting boundaries has been life-changing. I carve out 1:1 time in my schedule for my husband every two weeks, and I {try} to have distraction free time with my kids each day from 5-8pm with no devices. This feeds my soul and fills my cup, but it’s not always guaranteed. While boundaries are great, they are made to be broken - they will not work if you are rigid and inflexible. Each day is different and your time will need to be re-balanced based on your life’s demands. Give yourself some Grace when things spill over. Calibrate your time each week to find space and joy in your responsibilities at work & home.

I can totally agree but mastering boundaries was a tough journey, woven with challenges. I battled overcommitment, learning limits guard well-being. Embracing 'no' sparked transformation. Obligations faded, revealing clear priorities. Boundaries carved space for what mattered. They guided, reshaped my path, directing energy.

Dedicate. Especially dedicate time slots. Job never ends. It shouldn't. When your job ends, your task list ends, when a business stops the need for a new task it shuts down. So, it shouldn't end. That's the nature of it. So, you can't complete your job. You can't successfully finish it. That's against nature. Therefore, you have to accept that first. What do you do today when you have a never-ending job? You do not try to complete all of it today. You try to finish today's most important, vital, urgent ones, and the ones that you can easily get rid of, without making them wait. Write them all on your today's to-do list, complete them one by one and have the relief of completing today's tasks and going home with an empty slate.

Few things you could try to deal with stress are: 1. Don't let stress overwhelm you. Instead try to use "stress" to become more productive. 2. Dont get lost in doing many things. Usually when you are sitting on a pile of problems, stress increases. Try to deal with one thing and get it out of the way. 3. Go for the small victories and reward yourself regularly. 4. Try to take small breaks to ease off your brain. 5. If you keep failing at something, just stop it and take a break off it. Tomorrow is a different day. 6. Dont always look for the perfect solution. Sometimes the fastest solution to a problem is the best. 7.Ask for help and listen to others. 8.Keep reminding yourself that there's more to life than stress and work.

In my view, embracing the principles of delegation and empowerment is a vital strategy for effectively managing stress and preventing burnout. By entrusting tasks to capable team members, not only can we alleviate our own workload, but we also create an environment where our team's diverse skills and talents are utilized to their fullest potential. It helped empowering everyone on the team.

The art of delegation has been instrumental in my leadership playbook. It's not just about offloading tasks to reduce stress; it's about recognising and leveraging the unique potential within my team. I've learned that empowerment is a powerful motivator. It fosters an environment of trust, autonomy, and accountability, with space for growth. Delegation and empowerment have not only lightened my workload but also enabled me to concentrate on strategic aspects while fostering a capable, confident team.

Delegation in the absence true empowerment is futile. People actually only learn in senior decision making positions when they comfortable to make the wrong decisions and learn safely from them. So would say deliberate delegation with the ability to fail fast and forward. That sustainably builds better trust and people in your team for the future.

Not every stress can be delegated and not all stresses require empowerment. In my experience battling Cancer, that stress can not be delegated - although I had to delegate some motherly tasks to focus on leading myself out of the illness stress. Similarly, the solution did not require "Empowerment", because "Vulnerability" was also an important factor. So leading with "delegate and empower" is limiting to our abilities and not inclusive of all our sentiments. The issue in this article began when identifying the impact of stress on health, productivity and performance indicating we need to factor all aspects and Contexts. However; it continued to list elements that are partially suitable for professional context only.

Being an executive you must know whom to delegate, how to delegate and what to delegate. It makes you more stress free when you delegate among the team members. It allow us to identify the weakness, strength of the members and assign accordingly to them. It brings competitive spirit among the members. Motivation of team members will also bring positive results in the productivity. I observe most of the time favour towards few members and ignoring the members who are not upto the mark, eventually the members who are not upto the mark will be terminated based on performance. Being an executive you should not show partiality in delegating the tasks.

In my experience, incorporating mindfulness into my daily routine has proven immensely beneficial. Engaging in mindful practices like focused breathing and thought awareness during a 10-15 minute break midday helps me regain focus and balance. This enhances emotional resilience, sharpens problem-solving skills, reduces stress, and empowers me to tackle challenges more effectively.

From my own experiences as an executive, I wholeheartedly believe that self-care is not a luxury, but an absolute necessity. The demands of our roles can be overwhelming at times, and managing stress and burnout is paramount to maintaining a healthy and sustainable professional life. One practice that has made a remarkable difference for me is the simple act of stepping away for just a few minutes after a particularly stressful meeting. Allowing myself those precious five minutes to gather my thoughts, take a few deep breaths, and perhaps even take a short walk, has an incredible calming effect.

Self-care is NOT something to be done after work! We MUST practice Wellness AT work! ?? Taking breaks ?? Eating your lunch ??♀? Stretching ???? Deep Breaths ????♀?Going for a walk ?? Drinking water

In my experience self-care in collaboration with a strong support structure in business and at home is a winning formula. This is not something you can do alone and win at. It is all about the collective that enables the self.

As executives we need to give our colleagues "permission" to manage stress effectively by living it out. When we present ourselves as being high performance and available at all times. It sets the culture in the organisation. We need to model self care. We need to respect boundaries and allow space just to be in the moment. I have been able to manage stress at work as I know I am given permission to live all aspects of my life fully and my supervisor encourages that. about work at

Stress and burnout can be isolating experiences. But remember, you need not face them alone. It's essential to maintain open lines of communication within your organisation. An environment where concerns can be voiced without fear of retaliation can significantly reduce stress. Outside of work, finding solace in non-professional activities can provide a reprieve from executive stress. Whether it's joining a book club, taking up a sport, or simply spending time in nature, these small but meaningful engagements can offer significant mental health benefits.

Absolutely, seeking support has been a game-changer for me in managing stress and burnout. Connecting with fellow executives from different companies has given me valuable insights into why certain situations were causing burnout and how to approach them more effectively. Their perspectives have been eye-opening, and discussing challenges with them has provided fresh ideas and strategies. In the end its all about communication and self-reflection.

Absolutely. Seeking support from others, such as mentors, peers, coaches, or therapists can help you cope with stress and burnout.

It's important to recognize that everyone needs support at some point. Don't hesitate to reach out to someone you trust and ask for advice. Sharing your burden can lighten the load and help you find a solution.

One of the best ways to learn and grow is to give your life a vision and set a goal (that is slightly outside your comfort zone). Give your brain a direction to work on that is aligned with your core values. What would make your life extraordinary? How could achieving that help you in your life? What would be the cost of not pursuing it?

Absolutely, I completely resonate with the idea that stress and burnout can serve as powerful catalysts for personal and professional growth. Each experience of stress or burnout has led me to reflect on my goals and aspirations, helping me align my path more closely with what truly matters to me. One standout example was when I pursued and achieved a verification in Project Management. This endeavor not only bolstered my skills and knowledge but also equipped me with a fresh perspective on supporting project managers. It really helped to improve project management processes which led to less stress.

Every challenge is an opportunity to grow. As an executive, stress and burnout can be a turning point or a catalyst to build your character. I totally agree with you.

I've undergone a significant shift in my approach from traditional leadership to visionary leadership. This transformation entails focusing on the broader landscape rather than becoming overly preoccupied with minor details. I've come to recognize that errors are an inherent part of any endeavor, many of which are beyond our control. Accepting this reality, I've adopted a mindset that centers on implementing processes and retrospective meetings. By concentrating on the bigger picture and nurturing the growth of my team, I've found that a visionary leadership style not only enhances outcomes but also fosters a more resilient and forward-looking work environment.

Burnout affects your ability to lead well. If you need motivation to take care of yourself consider the ways your stress is affecting your leadership: ?? Decision-Making: Impairs critical thinking and judgment. ??? Problem-Solving: Hinders effective resolution of issues. ?? Risk Management: Can lead to excessive caution or impulsiveness. ?? Team Dynamics: Strains relationships and communication. ?? Vision Loss: Diminishes focus on long-term goals. ?? Communication: Reduces clarity and active listening. ?? Innovation: Suppresses creativity and adaptability. ?? Emotional Contagion: Spreads stress to the team. ?? Trust Erosion: Weakens trust and empathy. ?? Balance Loss: Disrupts work-life equilibrium.

One aspect of some leaders is that they thrive on stress… never waste a good crisis .. and leaders step forward to thrive in crisis.. albeit a never ending crisis of sorts is not sustainable but the allure of survivorship and grandeur makes some crave this. Take that into account, as I was one on these people gifted at solving complex problems.

Active compensation Go Sailing! Go Cycling! Engage with nature, elements, H2O, UV, Heat, Cold, Touch Gras, activate the non-brain of your body!

Stressed or burnout executives take relationships for granted and pay little attention to them. Yet, cultivating and maintaining at least 3 solid relationships is a powerful and bullet-proof strategy to either keeping burnout at bay, or reducing its toll on body and mind when it strikes. But what is a solid relationship? Here is a simple "Solid Buddy Test" to help you: Do you have 3 people in your life today that you can relate to as you did with your best friend when you were 10 years old? 1. Trusted ones in your life that will listen to your rants and silly talk without judging you? 2. Without you worrying they will pass on your secrets? 3. Three friends you can talk to and not feel lonely after the social engagement?