Taking Charge in Challenging Times

There is not a day that goes by that I don’t hear people talking about the uncertain times we are living in and the myriad of challenges they are facing. With rising gas and food prices, the mortgage crisis, and corporate layoffs, it is natural for all of us to be more stressed- both at work and home. Perhaps that’s what makes this time so difficult – the strain is not confined to just one place but seems to be everywhere. Add that to the fact that we live in a society that supports a “drive for success” and “win at all costs” attitude which also adds to the pressures of day-to-day life. With these factors so much a part of our daily lives, it means we have to work that much harder to manage the stress that seems to be inherent.

 

I spoke with a colleague of mine this past week and I suggested to her, as I have to many others, that these challenging times can actually turn into the most opportunistic times. This can be the perfect time for us to take stock and gain a deeper understanding of ourselves. It can also be the perfect time for us to develop a greater sense of focus in our lives. While we may not be able to change the world, we can make important changes within ourselves that will help us build the resiliency to survive – and thrive – in today’s climate.

 

We are all running fast these days, juggling multiple balls at one time. It’s difficult sometimes to pull over and take that hard look at ourselves in order to visit those areas that may be signs of stress or even particular behaviors or assumptions that we demonstrate that play a huge factor in creating our own stress. If you find yourself in this place, take a quick inventory and ask yourself these questions:

 

1. Are you tired all the time no matter how much sleep you get?  Are you reluctant to go to work in the morning? Are you exhausted when you get home from work?
2. Is the minutiae taking over and are priorities hard to see?  Are you focused on meeting other people’s expectations instead of taking care of yourself?
3. Do you doubt yourself in day-to-day decisions? Are you less productive than you used to be?
4. Do you feel vague about what is most important to you right now or what you would like to do in your “whole life”?

 

If you answered yes to any of these questions, take heart and know that while many of us would say yes to some of these, each of us can create a more self-empowering and resilient perspective for ourselves. It starts by taking stock in “you”. And, if it’s time for you to make some changes, here are 5 key things to do immediately:

·         Take care of you.  It sounds simple but it has been proven that exercise and eating a healthy diet gives you more energy, helps you sleep better, and, if that’s not enough, it also reduces the impact of aging!

·         Pay yourself first.  I recently asked a very successful leader how she stays so upbeat and energized.  Her response was that she does something for herself every day – in her case, it means swimming laps every morning. She says this “simple pleasure” gives her energy and a better perspective that she sustains throughout the day. That commitment to herself not only impacts her personally, but has a positive effect on her business life. It’s the same as the financial adage: Pay yourself first.  By starting off her day this way she not only reaps the dividends all day long, she also avoids the danger of running out of time at the end of day. Rather than rewarding herself later – if she has time – she pays herself first. Whatever your simple pleasures are, make a commitment to do something for yourself every day and plan to do it earlier in the day rather than later!

·         Give yourself an attitude makeover.  Sometimes we get into the habit of focusing on the negatives at the expense of the positives. This attitude does nothing but draw more negatives to you. Think about your accomplishments versus your shortcomings. Instead of asking what’s going wrong, focus on what’s going right. Take a moment every morning to think about what you are grateful for in your life and every evening write down all the simple pleasures that happened during the day. Then watch how you begin to attract more positives in your life!
 

·         Create healthy disruptions: One of the most helpful ways for me to break old patterns related to my stress and to spark some good creativity in my life is by doing something totally different. Sign up for a cooking class. Go to a fun movie that you wouldn’t ordinarily go to see. Take an hour off and do some gardening in your backyard. Try yoga or just read a fun novel. The important thing is to try something new or try doing something at a different time than you normally do. Disrupt your own “status quo” and have fun doing it!

·         Give yourself balance.  Take on less and don’t over commit. Of the things already on your plate, ask what really has to get done, by when and to what level of perfection. Ask yourself if some things can be renegotiated so that you spend less time or energy doing them. Another good question is can someone else do this so I can focus on the things that only I can do. Know your Musts, Shoulds and Coulds!   

 

Another thing you can do- check this out: SHAMBAUGH offers a stress resiliency and work life integration component within our WILL program as well as Executive Coaching to help you develop a greater awareness of yourself and those specific factors that are impacting your quality of life today. Learn more about WILL and Executive Coaching. And if you have my book, It’s Not A Glass Ceiling, It’s A Sticky Floor, go back and reread the first few chapters!

 

One last thought in closing-be intentional. Ask yourself why you are doing what you are doing and if it is supporting the life you want to be leading as well as providing the energy you need for being “you”. Take the time to be clear about your priorities. Know what’s important for you to remain happy, healthy, focused and true to yourself. Then have the courage to do something about it. I have always believed that there is a life of abundance out there for all of us- it’s a matter of whether we are open and receptive to receiving it. 

Click here to read Becky’s previous blogs

 

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