Annie Croner, CPC’s Post

INCOMING UNPOPULAR OPINION…🧨 Let’s talk about stress, shall we? Many of us are trying to “productivity hack” our way out of stress and are failing to acknowledge a key piece of the stress management puzzle. The secret to experiencing less stress doesn’t lie solely in another productivity hack or time management shortcut. If it did, we would have solved this problem by now. The secret to experiencing less stress resides in your beliefs about yourself, and your beliefs about what’s required of you. Beliefs like: ✓ I’m not a top notch executive assistant unless I’m available to my executive 24/7. ✓ I can’t close out of my inbox, I might miss something. ✓ I hate disappointing people, I can’t say no. These are the unquestioned roadblocks that are keeping you stuck in stress. What if… 💡Your time away from your work is just as important to your contribution? When you rest, you also assimilate information and are able to view things with a new lens. ⚡️Closing out of your inbox (even if just for 30 minutes) leads to increased focus and fewer mistakes? 🕰️You recognized there are only 24 hours in a day? With every “yes” you are by default saying “no” to something else. Perhaps something more important? Don’t get me wrong, I’m a HUGE fan of time management and productivity strategies, but these strategies won’t take you far without also doing the deeper work. By working on your mindset and beliefs, you can uncover the roadblocks that are keeping you stuck in stress. When you challenge these beliefs you can create a new narrative that aligns with your well-being and professional success. Some techniques to consider include: 1️⃣ Mindfulness and Self-Awareness Developing mindfulness practices allows you to become aware of your thoughts, emotions, and patterns of behavior. This self-awareness is crucial in recognizing and addressing limiting beliefs. 2️⃣ Cognitive Restructuring Question, challenge, and reframe unhelpful thoughts. Work on replacing them with positive, empowering statements that support your well-being and career growth. 3️⃣ Boundary Setting Establish clear parameters around your time and energy. In order to relieve stress you are going to need to set clear parameters for yourself. Setting healthy boundaries will not only help you manage stress, it will also help you show up more strategically.