The EQrated vol. 13
Hello Reader,
In the last volume of EQrated we discussed Customer Stress and how to deal with it. That led me to think about the other side of the equation - Employee Stress & Anxiety. We've all felt varying degrees of stress in the past year. The anxiety and uncertainty surrounding the virus, our jobs and the health & well-being of our families can simply be overwhelming.
As vaccinations get underway and things slowly get back to normal, it can be difficult to get off the "stress train". While in some circumstances stress can be a constructive force (driving us to perform better under tight deadlines, helping us to survive in a crisis), chronic stress is not good for us and is a leading contributor to many serious health problems (depression, anxiety, high blood pressure, heart disease).
Meditation apps and mindfulness reminders can feel trite under these circumstances. It's difficult to observe my breath when I'm trying to balance home and work demands. And how annoying is it to get "helpful" suggestions on how I should prioritize my to-do list and optimize my time. I'm sorry, but when I'm stuck with what feels like an "impossible" task, I don't need anyone to teach me or coach me. In that moment, I just need help to finish the task. Then teach me how to do it, after the task is completed.
And that's what makes this period so stressful. For many of us, we are still in the middle of the pandemic. We are still coping with the fallout of the virus and the shutdown and the surge. Everything still feels transitionary, and the danger seems like it is not over yet.
So what can we do to deal with the stress? As anxious front-line employees and as leaders who must manage the stressed-out teams? There are no easy answers unfortunately. I have listed some resources below that might help. If you have some suggestions, please do share. I'd love to hear them. In the meantime, all we can do is to take every day as it comes and treat ourselves with the same compassion and empathy that we would use for our clients.
If you haven't yet seen the video of my talk with Joni Peddie, here's a link. SLEEP is a very important aspect of our well being, especially during these stressful times. In the video you will find an in-depth discussion about what happens to our brain during sleep, how much sleep do we need and how can we build better sleep hygiene. Don't miss out!
In the meantime, here's your bi-weekly EQrated list of resources on Employee Stress:
Feeling the strain: stress and anxiety weigh on world’s workers - Hundreds of Financial Times readers responded to a survey that found that the pandemic is leaving many people overwhelmed. Many of the respondents were predominantly white-collar workers from sectors including education, financial services & media. They spoke of the difficulties and benefits of working through the pandemic. Source: Financial Times
The Impact Of Covid-Related Stress On Employee Engagement - The mental health challenges faced by employees during the COVID-19 pandemic have obvious implications on their mental health and well-being. But did you know that they also impact their engagement at work? What is needed are "servant leaders" - managers who is able to reduce stress levels and improve employee engagement. Source: Forbes
How to deal with a year of accumulated burnout from working at home - How does the pandemic affect our sense of space? Is your brain exhausted from overstimulation by the endless zoom calls and screen time? This article offers practical tips on how to cope with this feeling of burnout and exhaustion. Source: The Conversation
Doing What Matters in Times of Stress - Learn how to deal with stress and anxiety in this extensive, 132-page illustrated stress management guide for coping with adversity. Available in fourteen languages, with accompanying audio prompts. Informed by evidence and extensive field testing, this guide is for anyone who experiences stress, wherever they live and whatever their circumstances. Source: World Health Organization
If there is a topic that you would like to see featured in The EQrated, please let me know at stef@yourturnsolutions.com. Please feel free to share this Newsletter with people you know who might find value in it! They can also subscribe to the EQrated by clicking the button below.
See you in a couple of weeks!
Ciao,
Stef
Hi, I’m a creator
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