Top 5 Ways CEOs Can Effectively Deal with Stress

As this year comes to a close, it is natural to feel more stress and anxiety, especially for C-suite executives. With annual reports due, having to share the year’s progress (or lack thereof), and managing the myriad of other end-of-year responsibilities, your to-do list can seem out of control. But, the key to how you show up in 2020 will be defined by how well you manage your stress now, at the end of 2019. Here are the top 5 ways that the world’s most productive (and worry-free) CEOs manage their stress and anxiety.

1. Tackle Stress Head On. Many times there is a specific trigger or situation that causes us stress. The more we try to avoid it, the more it inevitably impacts our ability to cope. If you can pinpoint where your stress is coming from, then you should also be able to address it to determine the best course of action you can take to alleviate it. For example, if 10 AM morning meetings are causing you stress throughout the day because you find yourself having to play catch-up, then adjust your schedule to shift meetings to the afternoons or only on one day during the week. The key to this is in spending time reflecting on what areas in your life cause you the most stress and what you can do now to free up your energy to be more productive.
   
   
2. Practice mindfulness techniques. We are the sum of our thoughts. And, if your thoughts are constantly riddled with stress-related ideations, then it’s time to shift your thinking. Tapping into powerful brain rewiring techniques can be a powerful tool to help you unlock better ways to calm your mind and channel your energy to help you achieve your day-to-day goals. There are a host of easily-to-implement mindfulness strategies and mobile applications that are great to use throughout the day when you feel your anxiety levels rising.
   
3. Outsource administrative tasks. Often we spend our days bogged down with doing mundane, low-value tasks that it leaves no time to do the strategic work your company needs you to do. By leveraging low-cost, virtual assistants you can increase your daily productivity levels, reduce your stress, and be able to focus on the high-value, revenue-generating tasks you’ve been too busy to address.
4. Keep your perspective clear. When you’re able to put things into perspective it helps you to indirectly manage your stress. Being 5 minutes late to an appointment or needing to ask for a day’s extension on a client project are inevitable things that may arise. And, when they do, it is okay to acknowledge the stress they may cause, but more importantly, you want to focus on the fact that they may be outside of your locus of control. The more you dwell on things that may be of low importance or easily resolved, the more stress you will feel in your daily life. Put things into perspective and find ways to resolve and move on to gain mental clarity.
5. Make time for the things you love. Whether it is going outdoors, taking a vacation to the beach, taking flying lessons, whatever it is you enjoy doing, make a point to do it at least twice a month. Not only does this give you much-needed time to relax and rejuvenate your mind, but it also keeps you immersed in the things that bring you the most joy and creativity. Taking time to grow in your personal life is equally, if not more important than spending longer hours in the office.

What ways do you manage your stress this time of the year? Share your favorite tips and pieces of advice with us on Facebook here.