What do you do if you're a decision-making professional overwhelmed by stress and pressure?

In my experience stress builds over time as well. Yes, be aware of the negative feelings that come up, irritability, frustration, being short tempered, headaches etc, and take action. Start every morning with some mindfulness exercises that will set you up for a better day, on a positive note. Building mental resilience and mental fitness can help you manage stress better and not get hijacked by it.

A couple of years back i was really struggling to fit everything into my calendar, and would lie awake thinking about problems i had not managed to solve during the day. Entrepreneur friends recommended taking care of my body FIRST to calm my mind. I started by eating better but I struggled to find time to move and exercise. I am a mom of two, so when I'm not on the job, I am with the family. Since about a year I get up at 5:30 every workday and give myself an hour and a half just for me, my thoughts, my body. I go for a run or roll out my yoga mat, then i make myself a first cup of coffee and enjoy a favourite read, or i write. Yes, it is hard when the alarm rings, but it totally solved the stress and the overwhelm.

Being self aware of your emotions is critical to decision-making processes. By self-reflection on how you are feeling each day and recognizing when you feel your own stress “symptoms” can help tremendously. In this way you can recognize the next time these feelings are beginning to emerge and be aware and under more control of your emotions. Take a step back and breathe deeply and in a cognizant manner. Find ways to manage your signs/symptoms of stress by what works best for you. For me, I stop what I’m doing and practice breathing techniques and positive affirmations that I will get through these feelings of stress and that they are temporary. I also practice mindfulness and staying in the moment and focused on tasks. Prioritize tasks.

One thing I have found helpful is giving myself a moment to stop & get outside if I can. There is nothing more grounding than seeing nature - or even just the sky if that is all that is available- & reminding myself that rarely are our decisions life or death. Also bringing awareness back to the body through tuning into your senses. I become aware of the noises around me, including my own breath for a minute. You may need to bring the mind back when it wanders (it will - sneaky mind!). Just breathing in & out of the heart/chest while activating a positive emotion for 2-3 minutes brings heart coherence impacting the body systems, especially the nervous system & brain. You can return to work feeling a little calmer & clear headed.

One thing that I've found helpful in my own life and with clients is having someone to talk to and support you. Find a coach or/and mentor who is non-judgemental and believes in you. They can shine a light on your blind spots and be honest with feedback that you may not receive from friends or colleagues. It is invaluable, having someone in your corner when you feel life is hard!

Perhaps I am prejudiced because I have always worked in the helping professions and am now a leadership coach, but I believe the biggest changes I have made have been through sharing how I feel with trusted mentors/coaches/colleagues and seeing that I am not alone. Coaching in particular has given me a safe space to figure things out away from work. A good coach will help you to see all perspectives and opportunities, & personal strengths and resources that may have been hiding from your view. It is very helpful if you feel you are having to hide your stress because of how fear of how you will be perceived in your work culture.

Funny enough my sister and I graduated days apart.. she’s a doctor of physical therapy and myself, a doctor of pharmacy. Though, different professions, she understands the demands of healthcare and how stressful managing can be. She is my support system as I am hers because we both understand each other more than anyone else in this world. We can talk through the stress and come up with solutions to manage better and what triggered the stress to begin with. Then, take notes for next time so that “thing” that caused stress can be managed with much more ease next time. Find someone who knows you best and understands you fully because they will be honest, open, and give the most sincere advice possible tailored to you.

Great health = great life experience and positive live outcomes. Yes, thee will be times of stress but the more you treat your body as a temple, the stress is less than treating your body poorly. For me, practicing interval yoga, hula hooping, vegetarian diet with lots of variety to intake all vital nutrients and lots of sunlight on my skin makes my stress so much less. Great health brings more positivity in attitude, discipline, and happiness. With this stress is exponentially lessened day to day from my personal experiences.