Are You an Addict?
Are You an Addict?
Are You an Addict?
I’ve been doing quite a bit of productivity training lately, and I’ve heard so many people talk about their struggle with stress management. In The Power of Full Engagement, authors Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz make an interesting point: Stress is addictive.
The hormone adrenaline is really powerful. For people who operate at high levels of intensity for long periods of time, they can actually get addicted to the “high” you get from adrenaline, noradrenaline, and cortisol.
Are you secretly addicted to stress? Are you enabling behavior that creates more stress in your life?
Here are 7 strategies to help you on your road to recovery:
#1 – Breathe
While the alternative isn’t a great option, most of us don’t breathe correctly. Take time each day to breathe deeply. When you start to feel stressed, breathe in through your nose, hold it, breathe out through your mouth. Do each for 3-5 seconds.
#2 – Brain Dump
Get EVERYTHING out of your head and onto a piece of paper at least once a day. We can only store a limited amount in our short-term memory. When we feel overwhelmed, it is often because we’re trying to remember everything, and it’s impossible. Write things down as you think of them, and devote 5-10 minutes a day to getting it out of your head and onto paper.
#3 – Set Goals
If we’re not careful, we’ll end up where we’re headed. What do you want to accomplish? Regularly take time to set goals and transfer daily action steps to your calendar.
#4 – Exercise
Holy cross-fit batman. My lack of exercise and physical activity were taking a toll on me, and I decided I needed to step it up. I started cross-fit twice a week, and aside
from being so sore I can’t walk, I can absolutely tell a difference in my energy level and state of mind. Whether it’s walking, swimming, dancing, or any other type of physical activity, it is
critical to our health and well-being.
#5 – Think
How much time do you spend just thinking? Most of us are so busy “doing” that we don’t take time to stop and think. Whether you call it creative thinking or introspection, take 15-30 minutes a day and just let your mind wander. I keep my phone near me so I can use the voice memo function to capture ideas.
#6 – Take a Break
Your body is going to take a break whether you choose to or not, so it might as well be on your terms. Our mind and body must have time to rest. This is not a luxury, it is a physical requirement.
#7 – Eat Your Frog
In his book, Eat That Frog, Brian Tracey suggests that if you eat a frog first thing in the morning, nothing else will be that awful for the rest of the day. Our tendency is to procrastinate doing the things we don’t want to do, but we waste a ton of energy dreading doing it. Instead, before you ever turn on your computer, check your Facebook page, or read your emails, pick your most difficult task of the day, your frog, and get it done.
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Anne breaks down the daily habits and skills needed to grow and cultivate RESILIENCE.
We can take back control of our energy, but FIRST, we have to be aware that we are running on fumes. Here are five subtle signs to look for before you burn out:
1️⃣ You Feel Snappy, Judgy, or Overly Critical (Even Over Dumb Stuff)
2️⃣ You’re Drowning in Decision Fatigue
3️⃣ You Feel Guilty for Resting (So You Never Fully Do)
4️⃣ You’re Scrolling to Numb, Not Connect
5️⃣ You Keep Thinking: ‘Once I get through this week…’
If even one of these sounded familiar, that’s your sign. You don’t need to wait for burnout to make a change. This is your permission slip to pause, reset, and breathe. 🎥
Speaking for one of my favorite clients @assaabloygroup to celebrate their best customers in Napa – savoring so many delicious moments! 🙏
Have you ever had to schmooze at a networking event? You find yourself in some awkward situation, fumbling around for the right words when you land on “How are you?” or “What do you do?” Two of the most boring, uninspiring, uninteresting questions in the world.
Fortunately, there is a conversation starter that works better, is way more interesting, and makes you more memorable. This question is so powerful that it activates the pleasure center of the brain.
Here’s the question: “Working on anything exciting lately?”
That simple conversation starter makes people light up and feel good. And the best part? When they leave the conversation, they connect you with that good feeling.
If you want more tips, tools, and strategies like this one, sign up for my weekly Resilience Reset newsletter! ⬇️ https://www.annegradygroup.com/strong/
A couple of fun facts about gratitude:
🙏 Just looking for something to be grateful for drops cortisol by 23%.
🙏 A gratitude practice trains your brain to search for and find more good stuff.
🙏 Gratitude improves mood, memory, focus, immune function, and heart health.
What will you look for this week? #mindfulmonday
Overthinking is just self-doubt pretending to be productive. Give yourself permission to take a nap.
📷: @newyorkermag
Always fun work with the team at @traviscentralad!
When you get your property appraisal, remember that the folks you call aren’t the ones raising your taxes. Be kind, be patient, and remember that we are all doing our best.
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Anne Grady is a Speaker, Author, and #TruthBomb Dropper.
Anne shares practical strategies that can be applied both personally and professionally to improve relationships, navigate change, and triumph over adversity. And she’ll make you laugh while she does it. Anne is a two time TEDx speaker, and her work has been featured in numerous media outlets, including Harvard Business Review, Entrepreneur, Forbes, Fast Company and Inc. magazines, CNN, ESPN, and FOX Business. She is the best selling author of 3 books. Her newest, Mind Over Moment: Harness the Power of Resilience, is available on Amazon now.
Hi Anne, lately when I feel overwhelmed, usually the end of the day, listening to my ipod’s mixed playlist makes me sing and dance for a while that time passes so fast that I forget about any stressing tasks. By the next morning my mind feels more clear and new ideas to solve the problems comes to me. Thank you for these extra tips.
Hi Juanita,
Great suggestion! I love to listen to music, but I should definitely spend more time dancing 🙂
Hi Anne!
I always look forward to your posts, and Monday mornings are the perfect time to start my week out on the right track. I know all too well the long-term effects of the “stress high”-after awhile, your body will eventually “crash and burn”. It physically can’t keep producing those high levels of cortisol day after day indefinitely without wreaking havok on your body. Your tips today are words to live by-finding and keeping a sense of balance is what it’s all about. Thank you.
HI Amy,
Great to hear from you! How are you???? Your family? Unfortunately, I know the affects stress has all too well myself. I’m working hard to follow my own advice every day 🙂
Eat your frog! That is the greatest piece of advice for breaking procrastination habits that I’ve ever heard! If I can actually “swallow” that advice, I can see how it could change my work-life! I always start the day with the easiest tasks, and spend lots of time staring at the “frogs.” And day after day, the tasks I don’t want to do continue to be left undone which just creates more stress. This is the answer! I’m hanging this up on the wall next to my desk.
I wish I could take credit for it 😉 I can’t wait to hear how your week goes! Great to hear from you.
These are great help to combat stress. I am sure many can relate, you are spot on with number 7. Nice blog Anne! Looking forward to more insightful and helpful posts from you.
Thanks Hannah!