7 Powerful Self-Care Techniques to Help Managers Handle Stress

Before becoming a hypnotherapist, I worked in human resources for 20 years in the corporate world. And I came to believe this after observing a variety of managers go about their days, attempting to motivate their teams, 'fighting fires,' or dealing with pressures from above while not allowing them to filter down to their team members.

And that belief is that managers are critical to a company's success. Indeed, research indicates that having an effective manager is one of, if not the most, important factors in a team member's success at work.

Why Self-care is Important

I also noticed how frequently managers put everyone else first - the company, the boss, and their team - before they looked after themselves.

Now I’ve become a Clinical Hypnotherapist, and helped hundreds of people deal with stress and anxiety, I've seen firsthand what happens when people don't manage their stress and then have to deal with the consequences.

Because the thing is, some people think Self-Care is selfish, but it couldn’t be further from the truth. The way I like to think about it is, you should be helping others from your energy overflow, not dipping into your reserves. Because those reserves will eventually run out!

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So, I’m sharing with you my 7 Powerful Self-Care Techniques to help you handle stress as a Manager:

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1.?Prioritise sleep

I can’t emphasise this one enough. Sleep is where the body repairs and replenishes, so we can wake up feeling refreshed and ready to face the day. In fact, the part of sleep when we dream is similar to an unconscious therapy session. Because in that state, your mind is processing events from your day in order to find answers, gain clarity, and remove the?worry from your mind.

Actions like establishing a consistent bedtime routine, not drinking alcohol at least 3 hours before bed, not drinking caffeine after lunch, minimising screen time and stimulation in the hour before bed, and especially not taking your phone to bed can all help.

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2.?Practice meditation – the easy way

When most people think of meditation, they imagine sitting cross-legged somewhere and softly chanting "OM" while trying not to think of anything. Instead, what if I told you it was as easy as popping on a recording, and then drifting off to sleep to it?

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Well, this is exactly what I get my clients to do, and it really works! And clients who listen to one of my hypnotic relaxation tracks every day get better more quickly than clients who don’t. Because it really influences your brainwave patterns in a positive way, you can start emptying your stress, and get into the intelligent solution-focused part of your mind. This, of course, will make you feel better and more in control.

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I've included a link to one of mine at the bottom of the page, but you could also try Calm or Headspace, which offers a variety of meditations to listen to.

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3.?Make time for physical activity

I know when you’re really busy, it can be so easy to blow off exercise, telling yourself you’ll do it another day. But exercise doesn’t only have physical benefits, it has many mental health benefits. It helps to produce positive neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, which make us feel happier and more capable of dealing with whatever life throws at us.

In fact, exercise can make us smarter! This will obviously help you perform well as a Manager. If you want to learn more about this, I highly recommend the book Spark by John Ratey.

Whether it’s a walk at lunch, or half hour gym session, or online yoga, finding ways to incorporate physical activity into your day will be extremely beneficial on multiple levels.

4.?Connect with others

Since the lockdowns, there has undoubtedly been a shift in people spending more time on their own. And I’ve spoken to a lot of people who are now either working from home for part or all of their working weeks.

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But humans are social creatures, and when we're with people we like, we get a boost in positive neurotransmitters. So, make sure you’re getting those positive interactions, through hobbies, social groups, meeting up with friends, having lunch with colleagues, or attending exercise classes. It can make a significant difference.

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5.?Set boundaries

I saw this when I was helping managers in the workplace, and I see it with my clients now – when people’s boundaries blur, and they keep saying yes to things and take on too many responsibilities, it can lead to overwhelm and inability to cope.

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Practicing saying no, setting specific work hours, unplugging from work, or delegating (where possible), is really important. Your time will be taken if you allow it to be, so treasure it, and know that life is a marathon, not a sprint. Setting boundaries now will benefit you greatly in the long run.

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6.?Practice gratitude

This may sound a little woo-woo, but research backs up the effectiveness of practicing gratitude. In fact, the Emmons Institute, which has conducted extensive research on this topic, has found that people who practice gratitude regularly felt happier, exercised more regularly, had stronger immune systems, felt better about their lives, and worked harder to achieve their goals. Which is amazing, don’t you think?

And it doesn’t have to be daily, even weekly gets results. A great way is to ask yourself questions like “What’s been good in my day?” “What challenges have I overcome?” What am I proud of achieving?” or “What am I looking forward to?” and then write down a list of answers. So, take a few minutes out of your day, and give it a try; you might be surprised!

7.?Seek support

Just as you’d want your team members to talk to you if they have issues, it’s just as important for you to speak up if you’re struggling. Or even if you just want someone to talk to. I see what happens when people hold stress and worries inside for a long time, so finding ways to seek support when you need it is important.

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Whether it’s a colleague, mentor, coach, or your work’s Counselling service, or someone like me, it can really help you to gain clarity, and tap into the powerful part of your brain that can more easily come up with solutions and find answers to problems.

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Why not start trying one of these Self-Care techniques today, and see what a positive difference it can make?

If you would like one of my guided hypnotic relaxation tracks, you’ll find the link HERE. You will be joining my mailing list, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

And if you would like to find out how hypnotherapy could help you, please get in touch! You’ll find my contact details on my website www.soulstreamhypnotherapy.co.uk.

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This guest blog has been written by Tricia Maitland?(HPD, DSFH, AfSFH, CNHC (Reg)), a highly experienced and qualified Solution Focused Hypnotherapist and Coach, and holds the “Gold Standard” qualification in the UK for hypnotherapy –

The Hypnotherapy Practitioners Diploma (HPD). Learn more about how her bespoke hypnotherapy and coaching have helped hundreds of clients work through their issues, achieve their goals, and improve their lives, particularly in the areas of anxiety, confidence, motivation, and sleep on her website.

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You can also watch my interview with Tricia Maitland on my Mental Health Chats YouTube, where she discusses “Why People Get Anxious”. Like and subscribe for more tips and topics on positive mental health and emotional fitness.