So today I have one of these topics that are relevant to all of us. Everyone is always talking about being stressed all the time. Let’s begin with what stress means. The official scientific definition of stress is an event, experience, or environmental stimulus that causes a state of mental or emotional strain or tension. It’s become almost fashionable to be stressed. You have to tell everyone that you are stressed, otherwise you’re worth nothing.

"Where the brain goes, the body follows."

In terms of the workplace, I see most issues of stress coming from the never-ending avalanche of urgent things you have to do. Stress is like sleep deprivation; after a while you get used to being chronically tired. Stress builds up over time. Unfortunately the stress we have, at least in Western Europe, comes mostly from our own minds! You don’t have to run away from tigers or things like that. It’s psychological now. Keep this saying in mind as it is very important: Where the brain goes, the body follows. Many studies link stress with a compromised immune system, increased weight gain, mood disorders, decreased brain functioning, disrupted hormone production, heart attacks and more. As a manager you have to make sure that you are at the top of your game. You’re the captain of the ship, you’re leading your team. Let’s speak about the standard stressors that you deal with in an office environment. Deadlines due to not prioritizing are a big issue, as are problems with your boss or colleagues. If you don’t take care of them, this negative baseline through years and decades is detrimental to your work performance and your health.

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"I want you to be a proactive person, don't always react!"

Let’s now speak about handling stress, or de-stressing, in a positive way. There are positive and negative ways to de-stress. Healthy and natural ways to de-stress create a good to offset the stressful life that we live. In my experience, the first one is exercise! Physical exercise releases endorphins, a hormone in your brain that relieves stress and boosts your mood. Meditation, or practicing mindfulness, is also proven to reduce stress. Taking a 5- or 10-minute break and thinking about what needs to be done can have a great impact on stress levels. Take a minute for yourself because if you’re flustered, you cannot lead yourself, let alone a team. This gives you the ability to be more mindful instead of reacting. I want you to be a proactive person, don’t always react!

"Take the time to focus on the things you are thankful for."

When you’re consistently in a receiving state, you will constantly be on the back foot. Leadership is marathon,