By Jeanine Hage
I was asked a question by a young aspiring entrepreneur during one of the recent panel discussions: How do you manage stress?
It got me thinking. Why do we assume, often wrongly, that a busy entrepreneur must be stressed? It seems that nowadays the more stressed you look, the busier life you must lead and the more successful you must be. As if, stress is the modern day badge of honor granted to the employee\entrepreneur\(plug-anything-here) of the month.
I mean, who needs sleep anyway? It’s vastly overrated. And leisure time? That’s just wasted productivity potential. Who cares about nutrition when you have deadlines to meet and emails to respond to? You can always start that diet next week, or maybe next month, or next year…
Alright, you see what I’m getting at.
I learned early in my entrepreneurial journey that effective stress management is not a luxury but a necessity in our fast-paced world. Stress is inevitable, but how I respond to it is within my control. I find it unpleasant to be around people who are stressed out. I am not impressed by someone constantly rushing around without taking a moment to breathe deeply. I don't equate stress with being busy and productive.
In the companies I oversee, I lead by example with my team. Employees have the flexibility to engage in activities like stretching, playing ping pong, and taking walks outside whenever they need an energy boost. Recharging is not only for phones and devices; it is also essential for humans.
Among the well-known and widely communicated benefits of stress management, such as eating well, getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, setting boundaries and confidently uttering the simple two-letter "No," the most effective method that has worked for me is time—taking control of my time, often referred to as time management.
As Seneca, the stoic philosopher, put it:
“People are frugal in guarding their personal property; but as soon as it comes to squandering time they are most wasteful of the one thing in which it is right to be stingy.”
As an active entrepreneur, a mother, and a social individual who cherishes time with friends and family, maintaining a ‘frugal’ approach with my time and energy is essential.
Leaving Seneca for a more spirited discussion over a nice meal, I snapped out of my thoughts and returned to the young entrepreneur eagerly waiting for my recipe and its magic beans.
Here are five of them:
Eat the frog first - A captivating concept that encapsulates the idea of tackling challenges head-on, starting your day when your brain is at its clearest, with the most ambiguous and difficult task. By addressing the most daunting aspects first, we gain confidence and sense of achievement, making the rest of the day more manageable.
Aversion to long crowded meetings - You know those meetings where agendas fade into oblivion, and the art of leaving no idea unexplored reigns supreme? Walk out.
Multi-tasking - Ah, that superpower that we women are apparently great at, juggling the fragile balance between ‘work’, ‘life’ and ‘sanity’. Here’s a crazy idea - how about we try the radical act of rebellion against the tyranny of efficiency and start doing one thing at a time?
Distractions - If you reside in the same universe as the rest of us, you are constantly connected to some sort of device, onto some sort of platform, scrolling through some sort of feed. Most of us, including yours truly, need some serious discipline in reducing distractions. May the Force be with you!
Optimize your environment - Last but not least, a clear desk is a clear mind. An uncluttered environment equals an uncluttered life. Unless you enjoy going on an archeological dig to find that pen cap, keep your desk clear.
There are more magic beans, I’m sure, and to each their own. You don’t need another blog to help you unlock the ancient wisdom in squeezing 25 hours into a 24-hour day. Experiment with different strategies to find what works best for your unique preferences and work style, but be proactive with your stress management.
One thing is for sure: we have a responsibility towards our body, mind and heart to recharge. Our most invaluable asset to go through life’s ups and downs is our individual self. If we do not take care of it, no one will.