Chronic stress can lead to health problems of both psychological and physical nature. Forbes Asks Businessmen and Senior Executives How They Deal With Stress
Vaselina Kukhta, Vice President of RCG Advertising and Communication Group
Over the years, I have come to the conclusion that it is much more effective not to accumulate stress, but to engage in regular prevention. There are several classic, well-known ways that help me maintain inner balance: healthy sleep, psychoanalyst and spiritual practices.
When another unsolvable problem arises, it is best to wish all the problems good night and go to bed. There's a solution in the morning. This also works in the opposite direction: if I slept well at night, during the day no stress is terrible for me.
Psychoanalysts also help a lot. The main thing is not to expect that he will necessarily suggest any specific solutions to your problems. A professional does not give advice and does not teach life. Even if you don’t believe in spiritual practices and inner cleansing, still try a retreat or vipassana as if it were an attraction. A few days to spend in absolute silence, cutting off all ties with the outside world – it is extremely useful for yourself, and especially for business.
And the easiest and most effective way for me to deal with stress is to sing. The louder the better.
Ilya Lantzman, founder of Lancman School
As a believer, prayer helps me a lot (in the Christian sense of the word, when I refer to the one who created us): someone calls it auto-training or meditation. It helps me to put my feelings and thoughts in order, because if we look at the situation objectively, we realize that we really do not control anything. And any change in any external circumstances could tear down the enterprise we have been building for decades. If you look at life situations from the point of view of eternity, then these are small things. We are all spiritual beings, and difficulties are not created to crush us, break us, or unsettle us, but to correct ourselves and become stronger.
To calm down, it is important for me to change the location, not be in the same room as the person with whom the conflict arose. You have to go out and sometimes even scream. After some time, I realize that my emotional reaction can not save the situation and there is simply no point in worrying.
Olga Akatyeva, founder of Global Group. Business Aviation & Concierge
I’m one of those people who just need stress. In my case, it only increases productivity. I noticed that being in a stressful state, I am better able to solve work problems and problem situations, and sometimes even do the “impossible”. But when I begin to feel that “productive stress” is spilling over into chronic fatigue and neurosis, which leads to bodily failures, I just pack my suitcase, leave on impulse just to wander around an unfamiliar city. Without guidebooks, without reading reviews in applications - I choose everything intuitively. Honestly, I don’t know how to rest for a long time. On the fourth day, I begin to pull back and want to get into a frantic rhythm faster. It is these “short runs” that most help me cope with neurosis and stress.
Tatiana Bakharevskaya, Deputy Technical Director of Mail.Ru Group
I have been working in the IT field for many years, responsibility has grown over the years, and I have developed a certain stress resistance - of course, this skill is acquired with experience. Stress is usually caused by various situations that at first glance seem difficult or even intractable. When the situation is clear, it is easier to comprehend and translate it into a constructive channel, take control and move forward. Typical examples of situations that cause stress are not enough time, too much business, upcoming negotiations. When you have to do everything at once, planning helps to cope with stress - prioritizing tasks, working out and assessing the future result, real assessment of your strengths and deadlines. During the negotiations, I try to understand what result I want to get, why I go to negotiations at all, outline a meeting plan and arguments. In order to prepare arguments, I try to put myself in the opponent’s place to understand his motivation, it helps.
Another great way to reduce stress is to switch in time. I try to devote time to my favorite activities, communicate with family and loved ones, always find something new that will charge me. Or you can take a pause for a few minutes, drink a cup of coffee in a pleasant atmosphere and find the right way out of the situation.
Ivan Kvasov, founder of Consulting General Catering LLC, owner of Stories coffee chain
Another great way to reduce stress is to switch in time. I try to devote time to my favorite activities, communicate with family and loved ones, always find something new that will charge me. Or you can take a pause for a few minutes, drink a cup of coffee in a pleasant atmosphere and find the right way out of the situation.
First of all, stress is the state to which we most often bring ourselves. I have three rules: sleep, sports and delegation. I understand that sometimes you want to do a million things a minute and save the world, but in those moments I slow myself down and go to the field. Or sleep. Winston Churchill once said, “You should sleep some time between lunch and dinner.” I do that every day, and I even have a sofa in my office. Do not think that you will do less in a day if you spend some time on sleep. This is a stupid remark that only those who have no imagination make. You're going to do a lot more. You will have two working days in one day! If you don’t have a good day, make yourself a new one.
Animals also relieve stress, they have an amazing ability to calm and immerse a person in an almost meditative state. One purr of a cat is worth it. And my family and young son are the best way to deal with stress.
Source: FORBES
