Written by: Priya Mehrotra, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
It is that time of the year again! The end-of-year crunch can be overwhelming, with things still on our plate and so much left to do before the new year begins.
Time flies by, and it is not uncommon for us to feel like we have not accomplished everything that was on our list for this calendar year – either because life got in the way, or it just was not possible given the challenging environment we find ourselves in.
However, the current year does not have to be a total wash! Nothing should take away from what we have already accomplished in the last 12 months.
Three things you can do now to reduce stress
1. Take stock of your accomplishments this year
We all have had our share of ups and downs, and it is easy to forget all the good things that happened this past year. Even when life seems hard, there are positive things to be grateful for.
The easiest way to reduce the feeling of overwhelm is by taking inventory. You cannot go backwards and change what happened, but you can take time now and look at what you did accomplish along with any missed opportunities.
Remember to journal what worked well, where there might be room for improvement, and what you could do differently in the new year. Learn from both your mistakes and successes.
This is an important part of self-reflection that helps us better manage demanding situations going forward, without stress. And the best part of taking stock is that it reminds us just how much progress we have already made on our journey.
Consider the following:
What did you achieve this year that has been most fulfilling?
What are you most proud of?
What would you do differently to be less stressed?
What makes it all worthwhile?
2. Celebrate the wins to reduce stress
This is a great time of the year to celebrate our wins! Celebrate all the things you did well this past year, both in your professional and personal life.
Happiness is not something that just happens on its own. It is a result of small moments throughout our day. We may not be able to control everything that happens around us, but we can choose how we react especially, in those times when things do not go as planned or expected – even if it is difficult at first.
Acknowledging our achievements can be empowering and sobering. The joy of gratitude can be felt throughout your day. So, why not treat yourself (and those around you) with happy thoughts today. You have earned it!
Send an email to your team and the people that matter most to you, thanking them for their hard work and contributions, while also recognizing milestones achieved together; arrange an outing where everyone can share some laughs too.
Consider the following:
Who has helped you achieve your goals this year?
What are you most grateful for this year?
Who do you need to thank?
What can you do to show your gratitude?
3. Plan ahead for success without stress
The secret to success without stress is planning. Every new day as well as every new year, brings an opportunity for growth. So many of us are reactive in our daily routines – reacting rather than strategically planning for what comes next.
Planning enables us to get a better handle on our long-term aspirations so that we can achieve more ambitious objectives while still meeting our current obligations, without overwhelm.
Planning ahead is the key to reducing stress and managing expectations. Don't wait until December 31st to start thinking about what you want for the next year. Create a plan before the new calendar year begins, to set yourself up for success. You will be less anxious about what is in store, especially when unexpected challenges arise.
Consider the following:
What do you want to accomplish next year?
What resources do you need?
How can you get access to what you need?
Work stress can sometimes make it hard to focus on what is important. That is why we created a FREE online Work Stress Assessment Tool, for people who want to better manage stress and take control over their life again.
Our FREE Tool helps action takers, score their work stress levels and pinpoint the root cause(s) – so that they can learn exactly where their biggest challenges are coming from, fix them, and get back on track towards success and happiness.
If you need some encouragement, inspiration, or motivation to tackle daily work stress head-on, then follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn and visit my website for more info!
Priya Mehrotra, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
With over 20 years of organizational experience, Priya Mehrotra has unique insights on how to navigate a stressful corporate work environment, which can be a huge roadblock in people’s career, preventing so many talented individuals from reaching their full potential. Priya has worked alongside Fortune 100 leaders through times of rapid-growth and change. The Canadian born New Yorker, former Wall Street Professional and Corporate Executive, is a Certified High Performance and Executive Leadership Coach, Speaker, and Corporate Trainer.
With an extensive background in management and expertise in organizational behavior, Priya blends influence, communication, and negotiation strategies with self-mastery to guide clients in advancing skills in leadership, high performance psychology, and overall corporate career mastery. She is passionate about helping ambitious professionals identify and eliminate the root cause of their job stress -- so that they can finally take control of it instead of letting it control them. Her mantra is Get ahead with success NOT stress!
Priya's workshops and coaching sessions are fun and engaging, where she shares her secrets to overcoming workplace challenges and mastering stress for a thriving career and a joyful and fulfilling life. Priya is also the creator of The Stress-Free Career Woman™ initiative, which empowers, educates, and elevates female professionals -- so that they have more control in their career while also enjoying work-life harmony. As a human-centric organizational strategist, Priya also partners with corporations to help them eliminate workplace stress for greater employee engagement, reduced absenteeism, and lower turnover.
