5 Life-Changing Ways for High-Achievers to Manage Stress

Stress is something we all deal with, and high-achieving are particularly susceptible to the perils of stress because we have that constant drive, never-enough feeling propelling us.  That’s all well and good to a point but can overtake us if we allow it to.  Read that again…”allow it to.”

Living with ridiculously high levels of stress shouldn’t be “just the way it is.”  We aren’t meant to go through life treating everything as a fire drill. Yes, we all have personal and professional time-sensitive matters to tend to, but there is a way we can redesign our lifestyle to proactively deal with stress.  There are things we can do on a daily basis to stay in front of it.

The whole goal here is to experience more peace and ease.  There absolutely is a way we can live in that state, all while crushing it on the professional front.  I believe that regardless of our situation, we can all get to that place.

Stress isn’t just something we feel in the moment.  Left unaddressed, it has long-lasting implications for our future, as it erodes our health, proliferates disease, and ultimately takes years off our lives.  Stress lowers our immune system, lowers our vibration, and lowers our overall sense of well-being, and ultimately lowers the quality of our human experience.

Stress is not only felt at the individual level but also has company-wide implications.  Employees who are stressed are less engaged, less productive, and less.

When we actively work to keep stress at bay, we start to feel better all around – we have more energy, feel happier, more productive and our energy becomes contagious.

Energetically speaking, when we are stressed, we are in a state of “contraction”.  When we are in contraction mode, we pinch ourselves off from higher vibrational energies, such as peace, empowerment, abundance, fulfillment, and purpose, to name a few.  

The whole goal here is to go through life with an organicness and ease, and a deep sense of purpose and meaning.  There absolutely is a way we can live in that state, all while crushing it on the professional front.  I believe that regardless of our situation, we can all get to that place.

Here are 5 ways to beat stress that really pack a punch:

1. Embrace a Holistic Lifestyle

Gone are the days of just focusing on exercise as a means to reduce stress.  Holisticism is where it’s at.  

A holistic lifestyle has so many dimensions to it, and any activity that nourishes your mind, body or spirit fits the bill.

Notice I used the word lifestyle…it’s not a program, or a regimen, or a class.  It’s a way of life. A way of life that prioritizes you so that you can get the most out of life for years to come.

Leaders who take a holistic approach to their life thrive in and out of the office.

2. Focus on Just “Being”

We’re accustomed to equating productivity with the “doing.”  What did we cross off our to-do list today?  How much did we produce?  Are our results measurable? 

But this can and should be rounded out with  There is a tremendous benefit to focus on just “being.”  Sitting and enjoying.  Relaxing.  Recovering.  Savoring.  Cherishing.  Appreciating.  Allowing.  Flowing.  Accepting.   

3. Evaluate How You Currently Deal With Stress and Identify What Isn’t Healthy

Many of the current go-to activities to deal with stress may in fact be making the problem worse.  They’re a short-term, quick fix attempt to ease our stress and anxiety, but we may not even realize that the behavior is just masking the real underlying issues.  Alcohol, gambling, drugs, and emotional eating are a few examples of unhealthy ways to deal with stress.

When you identify the coping mechanisms that aren’t productive, go easy on yourself and remember to apply healthy doses of self-forgiveness, self-compassion, and patience.  The goal here is not to beat yourself up over it; it’s to bring awareness and start to make the shift towards healthier ways of dealing with stress.

4. Exercise

The benefits of exercise are numerous, and stress management is right up there at the top of the list.  Incorporate some type of movement into your day, such as walking, running, your favorite sporting drills, or any other type of activity that gets you up and moving.

5. Breathwork/Meditation

Set aside a few minutes a few times throughout the day to sit in solitude and take deep intentional breaths.  Just be.  No expectations. No judgements, just deep breathing and accepting that right where you are is where you’re meant to be.

Enjoy the process of crafting your new lifestyle.  Honor you.  Stay true to yourself.  Maintain boundaries. Say no without guilt.  Keep commitments reasonable.  Be assertive.  Disconnect from relationships and activities that are not in your best interest.  Do what you need to do to live a life that feels authentic to you.

Remember, the goal is not to totally eliminate stress, as it’s part of life.  Keep making choices that nourish your mind, body, and spirit, and over time you’ll start to experience less stress and more calmness, ease, and peace.

Are you dealing with high levels of stress?  Do you need help designing a new lifestyle that helps you feel better and attract better?  Let’s chat.