TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR OWN WELL-BEING

Most of us live our daily lives on autopilot. We have our own set routine and cram so much into our lives that we don’t give much thought to our own wellbeing. In today’s technologically advanced, fast-paced world, the answer to the question “how are you?” is often, “busy”. Busy has become a permanent state of “normal” to a point that when we are not busy, something seems to be wrong.

Being busy, to a large extent, is acceptable as long as we are productive and are able to manage our stress levels. Stress, if not managed properly, can be life-threatening.

What causes stress in the workplace? Unreasonable deadlines, toxic environment or fear of losing one’s job are some of the reasons. Stress, if channeled properly, can help us focus, speed up our learning and memory as well as accelerate our output, giving us a competitive advantage over our peers. however, if our stress levels are unmanageable and sustained over a long time, it can result in mental, emotional and physical damage.

To help manage stress, we can make small changes which are consistent and applied over time which can help reduce our stress levels drastically. Here are some tips:

1. Heighten your sense of awareness

Being aware of ourselves and what thoughts we entertain is the first step towards managing stress. We need to “think about what we think”. While we may not be able to choose what thoughts enter our minds, we have the power to choose what thoughts we entertain and what thoughts we dwell on. Learning to be aware of our thoughts and having the power to choose them is life-changing. One sure way of learning to become aware of our own thoughts is to start and end each day with gratitude. Most mornings, no matter how much of a rush I am in, I spend a few minutes “giving thanks” for all the blessings in my life and committing my day to wonderful things that lie ahead of me.

2. Be proactive instead of reactive

As soon as we recognise what triggers our stress levels, we need to create a “time out” before we respond or retaliate. this can be as simple as pausing and taking a deep breath several times or stepping out of the meeting room for a quick stroll or to grab coffee. Being reactive means, not only have we have allowed negative thoughts to enter our minds, but we have also given power to it to control us. Recently while working on a deal, I was caught off-guard when one of my counterparts made a personal and negative comment. I knew I had a fraction of a second to decide how I was going to respond. at that particular moment, I reminded myself that I was going to be rational and deal with the issue at hand and not be succumbed into his personal frustrations. the right response to a wrong question/statement can never be right. We can never reason with an irrational person so it is better to preserve our own sanity and establish clear boundaries of what we will allow into our personal space. 

3. Take charge of your body

Exercise not only produces endorphins, which is also known as a “happy hormone”, but it also gives us clarity of mind, reduces stress and strengthens our bodies thereby giving us a stronger sense of self-esteem. Most of the successful people in the world find a way to incorporate some form of physical exercise into their daily routines. In addition, as the phrase goes, “eat well, live well”. We are what we eat, so we need to also be mindful of choosing food that lifts our mood.

4. Do things you enjoy

Engage in extracurricular activities outside of work to channel your positive energy and creativity. I personally enjoy writing, working out, baking and taking online courses that contribute to my personal growth and development.

5. Make an Impact

Contribute your time and/or money to your community or a cause that you feel passionate about. I support a local charity and also speak in schools and universities as much as I can. Making an impact is not only a great act of kindness but it, in turn, contributes to our positive state of well-being.

6. Change things you can, if not change your attitude towards it

This is often easier said than done but ultimately, we only have two choices. If we can’t change things, we need to change our attitude towards it. Life is about mountain and valley experiences and we need to get through them both. having the right attitude during those experiences will lighten the load and enrich our lives.

Take responsibility for your own wellbeing. The only one who will be with you throughout your life is YOU.