Stress Management in a Stressed-Out World

According the Gallup’s 2024 State of the Global Workplace Report, North America has the highest percentage of engaged employees and the third highest percentage of thriving employees.?

That being said, even recovering overachievers don’t feel like they’ve “won” unless there’s a number attached to the score.?

So, here’s what “employee engagement” means from a numbers/measurement standpoint: employee engagement costs the global economy $8.9 trillion, or 9% of the global GDP.*

Meaning: higher engagement means less money lost.?

We’re winning, right??

If you read the report further, you’ll also see that North America has the second highest percentage of daily stress.?

Let’s turn from business for just a moment to look at some statistics from healthcare sources.?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) declared stress a hazard of the workplace. Forty-three percent of adults suffer adverse health effects from stress. Further, stress is linked to the four leading causes of death:?

• Heart disease
• Cancer
• Lung disease
• Accidents

Here’s a fun one: the chance of suffering from an emotional disorder is more than 50%, often due to chronic, untreated stress reactions. And finally, 75-90% of all doctor’s visits are for stress-related ailments and complaints.

Do you think we’re still winning??

More money doesn’t mean more happiness.?

Over the last two decades, I’ve coached highly motivated leaders and helped them achieve their goals. I’ve seen the same pattern repeat itself over and over again. It’s called the Overachiever’s Trap.?

We think that more effort will result in “that feeling” of happiness/joy/contentment. Instead, we’re left with a sense of our own shortcomings, which leads us to crave more.?

The Overachiever’s Trap begins in early life, cemented by the lessons we learn from our own experiences. A little success feels good. We get recognized, maybe win an award or two.?

Soon after that, though, the feeling goes away, and we teach ourselves to believe that the only way to get that feeling again is to work harder, win more recognition, and get more money. It worked last time, right??

The problem is, the concept is fraught with diminishing returns. Whatever you won last time won’t be enough this time.?

The solution isn’t a quick fix. However, thankfully, it’s not difficult to conceptualize. I’ve seen overachievers employ the tactics below. Over time, they relearn how to move about their day with a new definition of what success looks like.?

The result is a sense of calm, contentment, and peace that is much deeper and less fleeting than the latest award or influencer status.?

Here are two tactics to get you going.

Focus only on what you can do today.?

Psychologists talk about the importance of being in the moment, paying attention to what is happening around you, and noticing the small things (if it sounds like Eastern philosophy, it is).?

The research shows that most of our stress and worry are caused by worrying about a future circumstance or a past mistake/failure.?

Let it go.?

It sounds so easy, doesn’t it? The reality is, it might be the hardest thing you ever do, as well as one of the most worthwhile skills you learn to employ.?

Here’s a tangible way to get started:?

1. Make a list of everything running through your mind (and I mean everything).?
2. Once you’re done, take a breath.?
3. Cross off all the things on the list that do not have to be done in the next 7 days.
4. Next, cross off all the things on the list that are completely outside of your control (a little help for you here - most things are outside of your control).?
5. For the items remaining, write down one thing (ONLY one) you can do today to move whatever it is down the line.?
6. Do those things, then let everything else go.?

Set boundaries around when you will work.

Said another way, don’t allow everyone to have access to you at all times.?

I know. This sounds lazy.?

The best innovations, the most creative solutions, come when our brains have had time to rest. That means we need space away from our email, our to-do list, and, yes, our employees.?

The Achiever’s Compass? is an assessment I created based on two decades of working with overachievers. The assessment takes three minutes and gives you a custom report detailing how you can focus your time and energy to better experience the joy that’s right in front of you.?

Of the 1,500 people who have taken The Achiever’s Compass?, 60% of respondents were unable to turn work off once they were done for the day.?

Turning work off is extremely hard to do in the world we live in. Everyone has access to us all the time. In order for these boundaries you set to be effective, you’ll need to have good time management practices. Here are a few that are “tried and true.”?

• Get clear about what’s important. What are the top 3 things that need to be done today?
• Time-box your day. Set limits to the number of hours you’ll work.
• Take breaks. Trust me, you’ll be much more effective when you do this frequently. Even five minutes away from your computer between meetings will transform how you show up.

If you’re feeling an overwhelming sense of stress and rising anxiety, you are not alone. These are simple tactics you can use to minimize the amount of stress in your day. However, keep this in mind:

Failure is part of the human experience. There isn’t a soul alive who hasn’t made the wrong call, done the wrong thing, or said something that they shouldn’t have.?

When you fail, forgive yourself.?

Your goal is not perfection. Your goal is to become a slightly better version of yourself in the next 24 hours.?

Thanks for letting me be a part of your journey!?

—CJ?