3 Tips For Handling Stress When You Are Highly Successful
When you have a successful career, stress usually comes with the job. Sometimes, it’s easy to ignore. But handling your stress is a crucial behavior to learn. Many people find themselves burnt out and struggling hard down the line. Understanding and coping with your distressed emotions is crucial to continuing down the successful path you’ve made for yourself. Here are three useful tips for coping with stress in people like you.
1. Let go of perfectionism
Chances are you’re successful due in part to your perfectionism. It’s often an admirable trait in people who are driven and productive. That being said, it’s also a major fuel for anxiety. Perfectionists tend to beat themselves up when their work doesn’t go according to plan. Sometimes, it’s even hard for them to complete a task because the end result won’t measure up to the ideal in their head.
If perfectionism is a major source of stress, try to take a step back and understand your thought patterns. Try to see your work in terms of progress rather than the ways it falls short. Practice self-compassion rather than chastising yourself. Don’t be afraid to use self-affirmations like I am capable and my errors do not define me. It’s okay (and even good) to mess up sometimes—everybody does.
2. Compartmentalize your schedule
When people bring their work home with them, they’re not giving themselves time to decompress. This can be especially difficult if you work from home, which so many of us do because of the pandemic. Try to look at your schedule not just as time obligations but anchor it in locations too. Don’t allow yourself to answer emails past a specific time if you’re home. Keep your work and appointments in one room in the house.
Set aside hours just to relax—in the tub, watching television, or going for a walk outside. When you build these into your schedule, you’re opening up a time and place to handle your stress.
3. Pay attention to your body
When you’re stressed and anxious, it’s easy to get caught up in your emotions and let your mind race. This creates a negative feedback loop where you’re stressing yourself out more and more rather than taking a step back and noticing how your body is feeling. People who regulate their emotions and handle their stress are able to name the exact emotions they’re feeling and how they’re affecting the body.
Next time you’re overwhelmed, take the time to breathe deeply, notice what’s going on around you, and allow your emotions to exist. Name what you can see, hear, smell, feel, and taste. Recognize each emotion as neither good nor bad. Breathe slowly in through your nose and out through your mouth. This takes practice, and to get better try getting into a routine of daily mindfulness or meditation. You can find plenty of resources online for guided meditation, or take up an exercise like yoga or tai chi to get your body involved.
If you’re still concerned, talk to someone
Stress can often be managed individually and from the comfort of your home. But not everyone can learn these techniques on their own. Many stress-reduction mechanisms are easier said than done, especially if you have a diagnosable anxiety disorder. Counseling sessions with a licensed therapist can help you examine your life, understand your emotional responses to stress, and develop healthy coping skills. With many therapists now offering online sessions, therapy is more accessible than ever to those with busy schedules.
To find out more about how therapy can help you handle your stress, please reach out to us.
