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The first Wednesday in November is designated as National Stress Awareness Day but managing stress and the impact it can have on our mental and physical health is a year-round effort. Our Practice Management Team offers guidance on how to take control by adjusting how we respond to the negative stressors in our lives.
Have you ever gone to the doctor and learned that the issue you’re having might be due to stress?
You’re not alone in that experience – especially in the financial industry.
Yes, November 2 is National Stress Awareness Day. But managing stress is something that requires ongoing attention and effort. So while I’m writing this article in November for the sake of timeliness, I encourage readers to refer to the guidance on offer here all year round.
Of course, none of this is all that surprising considering the mounting uncertainties we face today. From the COVID pandemic (now entering its third year), to geopolitical tensions and fear of cyberattacks, to surging prices and volatile financial markets, we seem to be facing more stressors than ever before.
Perhaps just reading that list of stressors above was enough to make you feel stressed out. But what if I told you stress doesn’t have to consume you – or this industry, for that matter? That is the message I hope to spread this National Stress Awareness Day and all throughout the year. Read on for some ideas on how we can not only be more aware of stress, but also stop it from taking over our lives and our profession.
We certainly talk about stress more than we used to, but there is still much progress to be made. We often hear stories of people wanting to bring up the topic of stress with their employer, but they are often afraid of being perceived as weak, being passed over for a promotion, or laughed at.
This is where the importance of awareness comes in. The more we talk about how normal and prevalent stress is in our lives, the less of a taboo subject it will become. Talking openly with your team about stress not only helps make others feel less alone in what is likely a highly shared experience, it also encourages the members of your team to take care of themselves instead of fearing judgment. In the end, awareness of stress is key to healthy relationships, both professionally and personally.
Here are three of the tried and tested stress management techniques I share in my consulting sessions:
Not all stress is bad; in fact, a healthy level of stress can motivate us to achieve our goals. Furthermore, there are many stressors in that simply can’t be eliminated. The good news is, by managing your reactions to stress, you can begin to free yourself from the mental and physical health consequences it can create.
[jh_content_filter spoke=”uspa”]1“2020 Trends in Investing Survey.” Financial Planning Association, Janus Henderson, 2020.