Stressed, Overwhelmed and Burnt Out!

As the years have gone by, I believe more and more that stress is one of the largest epidemics that humanity is facing.  While I normally handle my stress much better than I used to, the past couple weeks have not only tested me, they have reminded me why practicing my high performance habits are so important to my mental and physical wellbeing.  I'm not unique by any means.  Life likes to challenge us and if we don't get our minds right, it just a matter of time before we're completely overwhelmed and burnt out.

The research couldn't be more clear.  Unmanaged stress often leads to a host of medical issues.  From weight gain to psoriasis, this has definitely been my experience.  In the past, I was definitely not good at managing the challenges of my week.  I would allow a stressful situation in my morning to carry over into my afternoon, into my evening and even over to the next day.  This wasn't good!  When I stopped to contemplate how this was impacting me, I realized that it wasn't only my health that was taking a hit, I wasn't giving my all to my clients, and my family.  My stress was having a negative impact on my relationships and my productivity.  This meant that it was a vicious circle.  Stress led to poor health, bed relationships, and poor productivity, which then led to more stress!  So, what's the solution?

For me, the breakthrough came when I learned how to Intentionally Manage My Transitions throughout the day.  Taking "Pit Stops"  between each of my activities as a reset really helps.  It doesn't take long, just a couple minutes.  During these pit stops, I close my eyes, take some deep breaths and remind myself how critical it is to show up as the best version of myself.  Who needs me to be on my "A Game"?   These short breaks throughout the day, haven't only helped me to better manage my stress, they have also given me more energy.  As a result, my productivity, health and relationships have all improved.

Next time you're feeling a bit stressed and overwhelmed, it my be worth taking a walk, or closing your eyes for a few minutes.  I'm a firm believer that managing our transitions is a key to letting go of stress between activities is a major key to avoiding burnout and overwhelm.  What habit can you put in place to relieve stress in your life?