17/09/2021
Ten things that make successful people use stress to their advantage
Managing emotions under pressure and being calm can be specifically related to performance.
The trick in stress (and the anxiety it causes) is talking about a fundamental emotion. Our brains are wired, so we have a hard time doing anything until we feel at least a little bit out of this emotional state. Our performance is at its peak when we experience moderate stress. However, long-term stress is already detrimental. Stress weakens our mental and physical health (according to a study by Yale, stress causes a change in the area of the brain responsible for self-control).
It's worth taking the time to think about why we're grateful. Researchers at the University of California say those who do so are better mood, have more energy, and are better physically. Not only is this right, but it also improves your mood as it reduces the stress hormone cortisol by 23 percent.
🍎 They don't ask "what if"
"What if?" beginning sentences only pour oil on the fire when it comes to stress. Things can go in millions of different directions, and the more you worry about possible outcomes, the less time you will spend focusing on what is calm and under control.
🍎 They remain positive
Positive thoughts help keep stress intermittent as the brain focuses on something else that is completely stress-free. We can help the brain by consciously choosing something we can think about positively. All sorts of positive thoughts help refocus our attention. When things are going well, your mood is good; it's relatively simple. When things don't go well, your brain is full of negative thoughts; it can be challenging. In these moments, it is worth thinking about our day and identifying the positive parts. But we can go back earlier or think of a good experience waiting for us.
🍎 They Unplug
You may want to disconnect from the network regularly, which can help keep your stress under control. If you are available 24/7 for work, you are constantly exposed to stressors. Forcing yourself to be offline and even turning off your phone will help you disconnect from many stress sources.
Thanks to technology, continuous communication is now possible, but that doesn't mean it's okay anyway. You may want to pick a few times when we pay special attention to turning it off.
🍎 The dose of caffeine is tightened
Caffeine consumption produces adrenaline. Adrenaline is the hormone responsible for the fight-or-run response, a survival mechanism that encourages attack or escapes when there is danger. This is handy when a bear attacks you, but this is not good when replying to emails. If caffeine upsets your body too much, emotions will dominate your behaviour. Therefore, a limit should be set on intake.
🍎 They sleep
This cannot be said many times: sleep is essential. It increases emotional intelligence, helps keep stress under control. When you sleep, your brain literally recharges, looks through daily memories, stores, or throws them away (this causes dreams, at least for the time being, we think so). With a clean head, on the other hand, self-control, attention, and memory improve. Lack of sleep increases stress hormones without any other external effects.
🍎 They knock out negative thoughts on their own
It is a big step in stress management if we can dispel negative thoughts about ourselves. The more often you have negative thoughts, the more power you give them. And most of our negative thoughts are just that: a thought, not a fact. When you start believing in pessimistic things, stop.
Literally: stop and write down what you are thinking. If you could take a moment to slow down, you'll start feeling much more rationally.
🍎 They frame their perspective
The driving force behind stress and anxiety is our own, not perfect perception. It's easy to think that unsustainable deadlines, unforgiving bosses, and poor transportation are the cause of our stress. It is not possible to control everything, but it is how we respond to challenges. Therefore, before we get too annoyed with something, it's worth putting it in perspective first.
When you feel "everything is bad" or just "nothing is working," you might want to frame the situation. It's worth listing the things, quite specifically, that don't work. It usually turns out that there are only a few problems, not problems with everything - things are already easier to solve.
🍎 They breathe
The easiest way to reduce stress is with something we do every day anyway: breathing. Anyone who exercises this will have a better time brainstorming and releasing tension. If you feel stressed, take a few minutes to pay attention to your breathing. The goal is to pay focused attention to your breathing; it will stop your brain from wandering. It sounds simple but doing it for 1-2 minutes is no longer accessible. If it doesn't go otherwise, it's worth settling for twenty; it's okay if we lose the count in the meantime.
🍎 They ask for help if needed
The temptation can be great, but it is entirely ineffective if you want to solve everything yourself. To be calm and practical, it is worth recognizing your weaknesses and asking for help when needed. This means reaching out to your support system when the situation is complicated, or you have too many tasks.
Everyone has a place to reach in and out of work, but it's worth consciously identifying individuals who may be able to help you. Then ask for their insights; this is often achieved by simply talking about your concerns. It already reduces stress if you ask for help. Plus, it deepens friendships.
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