How PMs Can More Effectively Manage Stress w/ Lolita Guarin - Author, Speaker, and Certified Stress Management Coach

On today's episode, I sat down with Lolita Guarin, Author, Speaker, and Stress Management Coach. Originally from Lithuania, Lolita moved to the States to pursue her American dream. She landed in Texas and quickly began climbing up the corporate ladder. Afraid to say no, Lolita quickly saw her health decline and work/life balance come undone. After learning some natural ways to reduce and overcome stress, Lolita started giving advice to friends and colleagues until eventually seeing stress management coaching as her calling and getting certified. Today, Lolita is going to share how we can more effectively manage stress in our day to day as product managers. Here's what we talked about:

The first and most critical aspect of managing stress is by removing ambiguity. We have to know what our goals are, first and foremost

Secondly, we have to know and feel that we are competent to do the task at hand

Asking for help when you don't know how to do something isn't weakness, it's smart

Why taking breaks are so important, even if you feel like it'll interrupt "flow"

Breathing techniques that work and how you can couple them with your breaks

The negative aspects of stress and the real impact to your health and productivity

Even if you're strapped for time, you can practice a 60 second technique to reduce stress

How something as simple as drinking enough water can keep your mind sharp and reduce your stress

Why guarding your thoughts and letting go of the things you can't control are such powerful mental tools

How prepartion is one of the best ways to mitigate stress

Why you should celebrate little victories and keep a journal of your accomplishments

The myth of performing better under stress

Why you have to have stress in your life to grow, but you can have too much

How stress lingers even after the cause of the stress goes away

Check out Lolita's book. "Crush Stress While You Work: Tips and Tricks To Stay Energized, Organized and Happy in Your Work Environment":

https://www.amazon.com/Crush-Stress-While-You-Work/dp/1542609798

Check out her courses with the promo code: halfoff

https://lolitaguarinsm.teachable.com/courses

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