What do you do if you're feeling overwhelmed by stress in your late career?

Late career is the key part of this sentence. It may well be linked to hormonal changes associated with age, including lower testosterone, the andropause or menopause. It is a great idea to get tested by a doctor &/or revisit your vitamin & mineral/general supplement regime, alongside refreshing your healthy eating and exercise programme, as these variables can play a huge role in your overall quality of life - including the cognitive and physical energy you need to keep performing to a high level at work.

There may be hidden stress which you could not notice easily. Try to check your sleep quality, eating pattern, and energy level. See if there is any change.

The phrase, "Stress is a Killer" is revelatory, and all too often, "Late in Our Careers" we experience the consequences. Mindfully "Acknowledging Stress" is the first step to creating a "Balanced Life".

Overcoming late career stress requires a proactive and multifaceted approach that focuses on identifying the source of stress, seeking support, managing workload, practicing self-care, maintaining work-life balance and prioritizing health and well-being. Acts of kindness and altruism can boost feelings of happiness, satisfaction, and purpose, which in turn can reduce stress levels. Trust and Faith in God, Prayers and Meditation are emphasized to find inner peace and overcome Stress. By implementing these strategies and taking proactive steps to manage stress effectively, you can overcome late career stress and maintain a healthy and fulfilling career and overall well-being.

Technology has helped me a ton here. Tracking my eating habits with MyFitnessPal and my heart rate and sleep quality and patterns, including when I go to bed, combine to paint a clear picture for me. Also, when I answer ‘I’m fine’ to any question about how I’m doing. I need out a bit and pull the data into Excel to correlate the various data sources. For me, when I see something is out of whack, it’s rarely one thing. This is my best queue to go to mindfulness and mental health tools like DBT skills, and to talk to someone I trust, which is always my wife and my counselor. Hope this helps and excited to hear perspectives from others! #alwaysmoretolearn

If you don't want to share it in person, you can find a virtual community like an online forum or even AI chat to get support. The key is expressing yourself and clarifying your mind while writing down problems and stress. Find any method that you feel most comfortable with.

Are you ready for a personal paradigm shift? Western culture has created what the Hopi people call Koyaanisqatsi (Life out of balance). Establishing a reasonable Work-Life Balance restores "Powaqqatsi".

We must take care of ourselves first, before someone else. Otherwise, we will not have the energy and resources to care for others. Self-care may bring you self-blame. Remember, you don't have to believe every word in your mind. Leave a space for yourself and rest well for your body and mind.

Find things which you enjoy, new challenges which are genuinely you, rather than the priority of others. Take time for enjoyment

I love what’s been written here already. For me, self care has three key components. If I’m overwhelmed, I check to see if I’m: * Prioritizing time with my family. If the answer is no, that’s a sign that I’m overwhelmed time-wise, and likely far from my best emotionally. * Eating decently? Am I heavy on sweets, soda, carbs? Am I a snack fiend? If yes, it’s an immediate red flag that I’m stress eating, taking in too many calories, sugars, carbs, sodium. My body is compromised so I’m mentally and physically off my game. * Exercise - am I? If no, another clear sign. Reversing each red flag above is my self care. My wife and kids nourish me and make me life. Better diet means better energy and sleep. Regular exercise is the final piece.

Try "SURRENDER". Sometimes 'Embracing Change' literally means "Letting Go" and diving into 'Flow Consciousness'. The Lakota people revered the "Heyoka", the Sacred Clown, Empaths & Contrarians. "Be who you are, and NOT what you are expected to be".

When feeling overwhelmed by stress in your late career, it can be helpful to check in with yourself regularly to notice how you are feeling. Often times we are so wrapped up in our day to day that we miss signs of stress and anxiety until they are built up and affect us physically. Developing a regular mindfulness routine can help you acknowledge emotions and stressors more quickly, allowing you to find healthy ways to take care of yourself. A regular mindfulness routine can also help you to focus more on what matters and let the little things slide.

Arjita makes a great point here. Using phrases like overwhelmed, buried, underwater repeatedly sets the feelings more deeply. Be it growth opportunity, or changing your internal dialog to add “right now” or “at the moment” reinforce that the condition is temporary. Returning to a more regulated, relaxed state is a process. Avoid self-talk like “if I just…” that point to a one-button push to get there. Rather do 1-2 things, small things, daily to get back to the version of yourself that you want to be. There are tons of tips and techniques mentioned here - find what works for you!

Reframe Your Narrative: Shift from "Overwhelmed" to "Growth Opportunity." Consider a mindfulness practice of reframing your experience. Instead of solely identifying yourself as overwhelmed, view this stress as a signal for growth. Mindfully explore what aspects of your career might need adjustment or what new skills you might want to learn. This shift can empower you to see the situation as an opportunity to revitalize your career, leading to a more positive and solution-oriented approach.