Explore How Gamification Revolves Around Managing Expectations
Impro Team
May 1, 2024
Gamification is a powerful tool for motivating employees and enhancing customer experiences. At its core,
Stress is a part of everyone’s life. There are plenty of things that happen that can add to your stress level. While you can’t control all of them, you can control the way you respond.
We all feel stress from time to time and it’s not necessarily a bad thing. The brain’s stress response is designed to heighten our awareness when we sense a threat or pressure. Stress can boost memory and performance. Where it becomes a problem is when stress is consistent, chronic, and pervasive. It can lead to anxiety, depression, problems concentrating or remembering things, and manifest itself in physical symptoms such as headaches, heart disease, and strokes.
And today, people are feeling that stress more than ever. A 2022 study by the American Psychological Association reports that a large majority of people are stressed. From inflation to the supply chain to global uncertainty and lingering pandemic concerns, it can take a toll. Nearly two-thirds of those surveyed said their lives has been changed forever because of COVID and it’s created a greater amount of stress on top of everything else in life.
For busy individuals, stress management is a very important skill to live a healthier life. Especially in today’s world where mental health is a very serious issue, many people need guidance or coaching to learn how to manage stress levels. So, when stress strikes, it’s important to have the tools to help calm your mind and body. In this article, we’ll show you a few stress relievers that can help.
Stress management requires objective self-esteem and objectivity in the way you train your mind to think. You must be able to see the world as it is and not how you want it to be. You must be able to see yourself as you are, and not how you want to be. Only then can you begin the long journey from “How should I think and feel about myself?” to “I know who I am, what I stand for, what my goals are, and I have a solid sense of self-esteem.”
This way of thinking helps you deal with stress by remembering what’s important. Most work stress is self-inflicted and temporary. Acknowledging this can help reduce pressure points.
Over the past few years, most of us have dealt with a whole other level of stress. Pandemic concerns and fears about health, transitioning to remote work, inflation, and rising gas prices —all play a role in how we think and feel.
For high-potential, hard-working, and growth-minded people, the ability to manage stress levels is crucial and it starts with thinking differently. Stepping back and putting your current stress in the context of your life helps minimize feelings of anxiety. You may be worried right now about hitting a deadline, but you know you’ve always hit them in the past and you’ll get it done today, too. And, putting it in perspective with the most important things in your life, it pales in comparison.
Dr. Kerry Ressler, chief scientific officer at McLean Hospital and professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, phrases it this way: “A life without stress is not only impossible, but also would likely be pretty uninteresting — in fact, a certain degree of stress is helpful for growth,” said Dr. Ressler. Rather than trying to eliminate stress completely, you need to focus instead on a healthier stress response.
Here are some other tips for managing stress:
Stress isn’t always predictable. It can strike at any moment. It helps to focus on the things you can control, such as having a routine. Predictability helps limit the impact of stress.
Organizing your workday or daily tasks can help, too. Just writing down what you have to do can help you relieve the feeling of being overwhelmed. As you check things off, it can produce a sense of progress and accomplishment. It may also help you see where the stress will come from, so you can do something about it before it becomes overwhelming.
Organizing things in your workplace and home can make a difference, too. Eliminating clutter and mess makes it easier to find what you need when you need it.
It can be a vicious cycle. Stress can impact your sleep and rest periods, which can aggravate stress. Practicing healthy sleep habits, such as going to bed and waking at the same time, avoiding caffeine and stimulants late in the day, and creating a relaxing environment can also help.
A common response to stress is overeating, drinking alcohol, or — for some — smoking. A balanced, healthy diet along with exercise can make a significant difference. Even just getting away from your desk and taking a walk outside for a few minutes can make a big difference. Don’t underestimate the power of fresh air and sunshine!
When you’re feeling undue stress, recognize the symptoms and practice relaxation techniques. Deep breathing, progressive relaxation of muscles, mindfulness, and meditation can help. Sometimes, it’s as simple as putting work aside for a few minutes to clear your mind and get a fresh start.
We often put extra stress on ourselves by overscheduling and setting unrealistic goals. Guard your time precisely and build free time in your schedule to think and deal with new things that come up. Days rarely go completely as planned, so have some flexibility to adapt when things change.
It’s also OK to say no at times when situations put an undue burden on you. You don’t always have to meet others’ expectations, especially if they are being unrealistic in their requests.
Lean on your support network. When you’re feeling stressed, it can help just to express your feelings. Talk to a colleague, friend, or partner about what you’re feeling. Get help from a coach or talk to your doctor, especially if you’re struggling to manage stress regularly. A word of encouragement, support, or motivation can go a long way in reducing anxiety.
Long-term stress can affect your brain health and cause poor health. The earlier you recognize stress and its impact, and find helpful ways to reduce your stress levels, the healthier you will be.
Like anything else in life, practice will help you get better. Next time you’re feeling stressed, practice some of these techniques and see what works best for you.
As a business leader, others take their cues from you. If you’re stressed, you may be adding to your team members’ stress as well. So, it’s important to manage your stress to optimize performance for those you lead.
What works for you to relieve stress? Let us know. If you want to talk more in-depth about stress management coaching, get in touch with Impro.AI today.
Gamification is a powerful tool for motivating employees and enhancing customer experiences. At its core,
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