Creating a Pendulum Between Purpose and Stress

Let’s face it, leaders have plenty of stress.  But it’s how we recover and how often that makes or breaks our effectiveness.  And us!

This is a two-way shift.

We have to go back and forth between stress and recovery. And they can both provide an essential opportunity for development and learning. But only when we manage the shift between stress and recovery, keeping us fairly in balance, do we gain the opportunities awaiting us.

An article in PositivePsycology.com had several stress management approaches I (Cindy) really liked because they are something most of us can accomplish.  Things like: 

• Preparation increases our sense of control and improves confidence.
• Relaxation reduces anxiety and restores focus.
• Maintaining physical health via a healthy lifestyle, balanced diet, and exercise underpins overall mental wellbeing.

Another way to manage stress is to reframe our perception of it. (This is huge and gives you an immediate shift!)

Rather than see it as unwelcome and to be avoided, pressure can provide an essential opportunity for development and learning. Viewed as an opportunity to thrive, stress can be the motivation to perform at our very best and adopt a growth mindset.  It’s when stress is not dealt with or balanced with recharge and recovery that we run into trouble.

Since most of the time, leaders expect more of themselves than anyone else, coupled with a tremendous responsibility, we can be more susceptible to getting out of balance and disregard the need to manage both stress and recovery, thinking we can handle it all.  Remember, recharging restores focus and lessens anxiety!  

We also need to have a pendulum between purpose and stress.  Between what you are passionate about and what you have to do.

Harvard Business Review reminds us:

Work from a place of rest, rather than resting from a place of work.

1. Many times it’s our lack of awareness of what stresses us.  
2. Find the place of stress.  What puts you in a place of stretching. Along with this, know your limits.  
3. Activate recovery. Take action on what recharges you.

Just like life and leadership, we have to be intentional about creating our own recovery.  Realizing recovery is a skill, because knowing how and when you can best recover from stress requires both knowledge (of what works for you) and practice (the action of actually doing it.)

Research shows when our bodies and minds need to recover and rest the most (ex: when we are depleted), we’re the least likely, and able, to do something about it.  For example, when work is demanding, and we’re feeling overwhelmed, we can slide into a negative cycle of working longer hours and taking fewer breaks.  We may grab quick bites to eat, many times eating less healthily, which further depletes our energy reserves and motivation. 

Getting out of this cycle is the answer! Make note of several ways you can recognize this type of cycle and redirect yourself to gain balance and harmony in your day.