Maintaining focus, managing stress, and achieving work-life balance are constant challenges for modern professionals. Sharon Melnick, a business psychologist and author of "Success Under Stress," offers strategies based on a decade of Harvard research and experience with over 6,000 clients to alleviate work-related stress and enhance productivity.
1. Act Rather Than React: Control what you can and let go of what you can't.
2. Take A Deep Breath: Practice deep breathing to restore balance and clarity.
3. Eliminate Interruptions: Set criteria for responding to interruptions and train others to respect focused work time.
4. Schedule Your Day For Energy And Focus: Break your day into focused work periods followed by brief recovery breaks.
5. Eat Right And Sleep Well: Consume a low-sugar, high-protein diet and prioritize sufficient sleep for overall well-being.
6. Change Your Story: Adopt a more objective perspective on stressful situations to reduce emotional reactions.
7. Cool Down Quickly: Use a "cooling breath" technique to pause and regulate your response to frustration or anger.
8. Identify Self-Imposed Stress: Build self-confidence instead of seeking others' approval to reduce self-imposed stress.
9. Prioritize Your Priorities: Focus on projects aligned with your goals and the company's strategic priorities.
10. Reset The Panic Button: Apply acupressure by pressing your thumb against the side of your middle finger to reduce anxiety.
11. Influence Others: Address problematic behaviors in coworkers or employees respectfully, explaining the impact and requesting a change.
12. Be Your Own Best Critic: Replace internal negativity with encouraging thoughts to boost motivation and self-esteem.
By adopting these strategies, professionals can regain control over their work environment, reduce stress, enhance focus, and achieve a healthier work-life balance. Check out the full article by Jenna Goudreau.