In the current uncertain and difficult times it’s really important to monitor how we are feeling. Maria Darby Walker, an experienced executive coach, provides some insights into managing anxiety and stress.
Watch out for signals of stress
Many of us when asked will say we are doing fine or we’re not stressed, but then might go on to add that we aren’t sleeping well or have developed back pain or are eating more than we normally do; these may be less obvious stress signals but watch out for them.
For those who have ever had their Myers Briggs analysis done, note that two of your four normal behaviours will flip under extreme stress – so natural extroverts may stop calling friends and family and begin to turn inwards; those who are normally relaxed about detail may become overly detail oriented – it’s important to recognise the signs and try to counterbalance them. Watch out for them in other people too.
Avoid burn out
We know that for high performing people their high energy and adrenaline keeps them going but too much over long periods of time can lead to burn out; for those of us who are in isolation and feeling that we have lost control this can tip over into burn out too.
We all need to pause, slow down and practice self-care; if we do not then this may lead to further anxiety and poor decision making. It’s natural to feel fearful about uncertainty especially as we are being bombarded every day with media and social media reports predicting the worst; our brains are hard wired to react to the negatives in our lives as part of our survival mechanism but this can lead us to a constant state of alertness and ‘fight or flight’ mode.
Practice self care
Build some routines into your day; make it clear when you are logging off from work; set a limit on the amount of time each day you watch the news or do social media; rest, eat well, find positive people to have conversations with; practice mindfulness and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine; try to exercise and focus on the positive where you can.
Take back control
Do not feel guilty about having time out – even when we stop, our brains and bodies are still getting on with things behind the scenes; we may never have this amount of time for quiet reflection again so try to embrace it. Take back control of those things you have control over and try not to worry about the things that are out of our control. Try to remain adaptable and flexible and check in with yourself and your decision making. If possible, check in with a third party – a coach or mentor or a counsellor or GP - for guidance, counsel, and support. Adopting these measures will enable you to better manage and control any anxiety and stress you may be feeling and better equip you for the uncertain times ahead.
Maria Darby Walker is an executive coach and is one of the coaches offering a free pit-stop check to ACT members. To find out more about these click here.
