Stress and Confidence

Stress has been characterized as a global epidemic, and it is expensive. Psychologically, stress and overwhelm are driving high rates of depression. Physically, it is estimated that 80% of physical ailments have psychological causes, the prominent one being stress. As for levels of productivity and creativity, beginning in 2008 the #1 reason for missing work is psychological, and that psychological condition is stress. It is also very difficult to feel confident when you are stressed and depleted.

So what can we do? One possible solution is moving to Tibet and taking up a meditative life. But let’s say you’re ambitious, and you want to remain hardworking, how can you manage stress and avoid the cost?

Studies of those who are successful, hardworking and successful demonstrate that stress can actually be good for you. If you know how to manage it, stress makes you more resilient, and increases your well-being and capacity for joy. In fact, it’s not a problem at all. The problem is LACK OF RECOVERY.

Weight training is a good illustration of the importance of recovery. Lifting weights that are a little too heavy, and cause small muscle tears develops muscle strength. If you then take the time to recover and then lift again your muscles gain strength. If you don’t take the time to recover, your muscle strength is depleted.

In their book The Power of Full Engagement, Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz, find that in order to experience “good stress’ work needs to be changed from a marathon to a sprint. Think of what a marathon runner looks like after a race and then think of the appearance of a sprinter. The marathon runner is depleted and exhausted. The sprinter looks strong and powerful.

Loehr and Schwartz found that productivity is increased when work is a sprint followed by a period of recovery. A period of 60 to 120 minutes of hard, focused work followed by a 15 minute plus period of recovery give the body and mind the needed break. This is human nature and you will get more done if you adhere to it. Recovery can be a coffee break, meditation, a session at the gym, lunch, chatting with friends, whatever works for you. You will feel better about yourself and more confident.

Recovery on larger levels is also needed. It has been demonstrated that people who take time off every week are more productive, as well as those who take vacations. It is also important to remember that real recovery doesn’t include constantly being on the phone with your office, typing away on your laptop on the beach or checking work email every few minutes! When you’re taking the time to recover, allow it to be a genuine break.

Try it! And please let me know how it works out if you do.