What do you do if work-related stress is seeping into your personal life as an executive manager?

I treat patients all the time who won't acknowledge their overall stress. It is obvious though by their disposition and all that they're doing in their life, that work stress is only one part of the equation. There needs to be balance in our lives. We all need to make time to wind down each day and step away from our work, the news, and things that create stress. Instead take time each day, even if it's only 15-20 minutes, that brings us peace and better sleep, such as Journaling, Tapping, guided meditation, reading a book, and deep breathing exercises.) You can't expect to be able to have good mental clarity and better productivity if you don't take care of yourself.

As an executive manager, acknowledging work-related stress seeping into your personal life is crucial. Start by recognising the signs: mood swings, insomnia, or lack of interest. Practice self-care through exercise, meditation, or hobbies. Delegate tasks and set boundaries to manage workload effectively. Seek support from peers or professional counselling if needed. Balancing work and personal life is important to long-term success.

There are many reasons why an individual will be stressed, but a combination of lifestyle and daily work circumstances can contribute to make things worse. As massage therapist, most of my clients express that they don't have enough time to deal with stress problems and find solutions.

ABC- Awareness brings change. Once you are aware of your body and mind feeling the stress, you can step back, reflect and decide to make a change going ahead Change starts from within. Take one small step at a time. Take a deep breath, centre inside your heart. Ask yourself- What was my reaction to the stress? If there was another way to deal with it how would I have reacted? What one thing can I do differently next time? What can I change?

Setting boundaries is just the first step. Honoring boundaries is the lifelong practice. Remember that you need to make space for yourself – to think strategically, reflect on learnings, and recuperate from always being "on."

If you work in an office, don't take work home with you. If you work from home, keep work at the desk or in your study, so that there is a designated area for work while the rest of the house is home. If you still don't have a work phone but just a personal phone that youuse for work, what are you doing? Get a business number and use that phone only during working hours.

Our lives are filled with “shoulds” and people telling what our priorities “should” be. Stop “shoulding” (scolding) yourself. Take time to examine your own priorities/needs and what fulfills them. Write them down in two columns. In column one, for each priority/need assign an amount of daily time required to fulfill it. In column two, write down the actions that fulfill the priority/need and commit the times and methods to fulfill it. Hold yourself accountable to you.

Make time for those things in your private life that you actually enjoy. And make sure you don't overload your social calendar either. Anything hobby we like in theory can become a chore when we have too much on. So whether it's meeting your best friend, spending time on the golf course or going to a lovely restaurant, ask yourself if you're in the right frame of mind to do this or whether you'd rather be at home for a quiet one and an early night.

I hope that times have changed enough that executives can sit around and complain to each other about the stresses of their daily decisions; however, I find this unrealistic. Life is difficult and demanding. As executives, our role is to identify talent, nurture and grow it; prune the dead wood; provide incentives to inspire productivity and creativity; create a culture of respect, tolerance, and diligence. When executives focus less on perceived personal burdens of corporate responsibility and more on creating and supporting equanimity in workplace relationships, their perceived persecution usually evaporates. Unfortunately, not many can make this shift.

Start every day with a mind map and plan in breaks and buffers for those unexpected to do's and for emergencies. Be realistic about how long you may take for different tasks. And then turn your phone off and put it away when you do get to the heads-down work. Studies have shown how much a phone next to us (even when it's on silent or off!) distract us, just by its sheer physical presence. Similarly, if you can, work offline - or at least turn off all notifications.

If work-related stress is affecting your personal life as an executive manager, managing your time effectively can help. Prioritise tasks, delegate where possible, and set boundaries to maintain work-life balance. Take regular breaks, practice mindfulness, and ensure clear communication with your team. Seeking support from colleagues or professional counselling may also be beneficial. Balancing workload and personal time is crucial for sustained performance and well-being.

Seek Professional Help if Needed Therapy or Coaching: Consider professional counseling or executive coaching to develop resilience strategies. Stress Management Programs: Participate in programs designed to manage stress and build resilience. Maintain a Healthy Work-Life Balance Personal Time: Ensure you have time for family, friends, and activities you enjoy. Disconnect Regularly: Unplug from work regularly to recharge and gain perspective. Practice Effective Communication Clear Communication: Communicate your needs and limitations to your team to manage expectations. Active Listening: Practice active listening to understand and address the concerns of your team effectively.

Take time out for yourself. The people at the job demand things from you. In your personal life there are obligations that have to be met. Kids, wife, husband, pets, their needs have to be met. You can't give energy, patience, support and love when you are running on empty. STOP! Put yourself first replenish your soul, body and mind. Then you can give yourself to others. Get a massage, go for a hike and do something fun for yourself. Be true to yourself.