Stress and how to manage it has been the subject of countless articles over the years. While stress is often viewed as a negative force that we should avoid, it actually offers many benefits. Without it, many of us might lack motivation.
So, what is stress? It’s the body’s response to anything that demands extra attention or effort. When we face a stressful situation, our body releases stress hormones such as cortisol, epinephrine (also known as adrenaline), and norepinephrine. These hormones prepare us to handle situations that require focus and alertness, causing increases in heart rate, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels.
The primary player in our stress response is the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of the brain, located behind the forehead. Often referred to as the brain’s CEO, the PFC is responsible for executive functions like strategizing, problem-solving, goal setting, decision-making, good judgment, and impulse control.
For peak performance, the PFC needs to be fully engaged. Just like Goldilocks seeking the “just right” porridge, we need a balanced amount of stress where everything is in harmony. When stress is balanced, cognitive functioning is enhanced, and we operate at our best.
This is the perfect state for meeting with your clients, listening attentively and coming up with effective solutions.
When we lack sufficient stress and feel bored, unstimulated, or fatigued, the PFC can go “offline.” This limits our access to critical functions like decision-making and impulse control, resulting in poor performance and motivation.
Conversely, too much stress can also push the PFC offline just when we need it most. This loss of sound judgment can lead to poor decisions, increasing stress further. If we’re not performing well, it’s challenging to focus on business development or effectively serve clients.
This can happen if you are dealing with something outside of your "normal" stress. Perhaps an unexpected deadline or an uneasy client can increase stress levels too much.
Ideally, we want to experience just the right amount of stress, with short bursts of catecholamines (the “good” stress hormones) that keep us alert, focused, and motivated.
Finding your “just right” is crucial for peak performance and results. Reflect on times when you felt at your best—when everything was running smoothly and you were “on top of your game.”
Write down the details of those times and compare them to periods of high stress. Identify the differences and consider changes, both short-term and long-term, to help you achieve your “just right.”
Consider sleep, diet, time of year, workload and personal variables when you compare.
Then, chase that "just right!"
Some suggestions include:
Meeting with your team to discuss delegating tasks that don't need to be on your plate.
Identifying and minimizing time-wasting activities, such as excessive social media or in-office distractions that take you away from important work.
Long-term, consider evaluating your client book and planning to release some smaller revenue clients, to make space for more of your ideal clients.
Remember, maintaining balanced stress levels is key to keeping your brain functioning at its peak!
Allyson Lee
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