Unplugging Is Good For Business

August 27, 2012 by ·

Two weeks ago we talked about the importance of taking a true break when on vacation. I was intrigued to read a story in last week's Boston Globe which reported an increasing trend in executives unplugging while on vacation. The article cited a recent survey of 1,400 CFOs, half of whom do not check in with the office during vacation. They reported this is twice the number that stayed unplugged two years ago.

A Growing Realization
The Globe states this is a, "realization by some that the need to stay connected to work can become an addiction–and can take a toll on people's health, productivity and families."

Corey Thomas, president of Boston IT security company Rapid7 says disconnecting while out of the office is good for his family and also his employees. He says, "It sends a strong message to your team if you believe that everything falls apart if you're not there. It does demonstrate a lack of confidence."

Are You Wearing Yourself Down?
Tracy Sinclair, vice president of global marketing for the Boston staffing firm Aquent, just returned from her first disconnected vacation in 10 years. She says that during past vacations she checked her smartphone so frequently, it felt as if she had never left.

She says, "Even if I wasn't responding, I was constantly seeing the e-mails coming in, and I don't think we realize how much that wears us down."
 
Enjoy The Rest of Your Summer
During the waning weeks of Summer, try to take some time (even if only over the weekend or during an evening) to disconnect from the office. You'll be in good company with other unplugged executives and you'll return to the office more productive.  
 

How do you unplug?

Post your answer below.


All my best,

Jacqueline


Read Conscious Success: The 5 Step Process To Dissolve Stress, Increase Productivity and Find Your Flow at Work for an effective process to reduce stress for good. 

 

Events/Publications:  

Stress Management: A Q&A with Jacqueline

Article featured in the July 2012 edition of Contact Center Pipeline

Read it here 

 

The Impact of Job Dissatisfaction  

Article featured in the May 2012 edition of Contact Center Pipeline.  

Read it here   

 

64% of Americans Hate Their Job: What This Means For Your Organization   

Webcast hosted by North East Human Resources Association Listen to replay here

Filed Under: Leadership, Productivity, Stress Management · Tagged: , ,

How To Eliminate Worry

August 20, 2012 by ·

In every session I teach, worry is one of the most often cited limiting thought patterns that people experience. There are so many things to worry about:

  • Finances
  • Job/Career
  • Children (even when they are adults)
  • Economy
  • World Hunger/Wars/Unrest  
  • Parents
  • Pets
  • Friends  

The list goes on… and it changes. It seems once one thing is fixed, there's something else to worry about.

 

Often worry is needless and doesn't help anything anyway. It just makes you unhappy and stressed.

 

Try This 

The next time you find yourself worrying, evaluate your worry and anxious thoughts.

 

Take a moment to look at the anxious worry or thought and ask yourself these questions:  

  • How possible or probable is the situation?
  • How much control do you have over the situation?
  • Is your worry going to help make the situation better?
  • Is your worry causing unhappiness for you and others? 
  • Could you be more supportive to others if you stop worrying and simply be there for them?   

Often you will find the thing you worried about is not very likely to occur or if it does, that your worrying about it isn't going to help a bit. Why waste time worrying? Without worry, you'll have more room in your life for friends and loved ones, fun, and peaceful moments.  

 

How are you able to stop worrying?

Tell us how below


All my best,

Jacqueline


Read Conscious Success: The 5 Step Process To Dissolve Stress, Increase Productivity and Find Your Flow at Work for an effective way to manage stress 
 
Events/Publications: 
Stress Management: A Q&A with Jacqueline
Article featured in the July 2012 edition of Contact Center Pipeline
Read it here
 
The Impact of Job Dissatisfaction 
Article featured in the May 2012 edition of Contact Center Pipeline. 
Read it here  
 
64% of Americans Hate Their Job: What This Means For Your Organization  
Webcast hosted by North East Human Resources Association Listen to replay here

Filed Under: Emotional Intelligcence, Employee Performance, Productivity, Stress Management, Uncategorized · Tagged: , , ,

How To Get the Break You Need

August 15, 2012 by ·

The summer is perfect for taking time off. Unfortunately for many, vacation brings more stress than rejuvenation. Last week, while working with a Fortune 200 technology company, the topic of vacation stress came up, so I thought I'd talk about it today.

Vacation Stress
Preparing for vacation, both at work and at home, can be hectic and overwhelming.

Many people don't get much of a break during vacation because they are checking and responding to e-mails, calling in to the office and logging on to their computer.

Returning from vacation has it's own challenges in getting caught up in everything at work and unpacking, buying groceries and going through mail at home.

Whew! Why would you even want to take a vacation?!

Why Vacation Is Important
Here's why… time away from the office is great for you. If you truly let yourself get away (and not stay tied to the office) you'll return refreshed, full of good ideas and ready to tackle your challenges with greater insight and energy.

While away, you're often able to put things in perspective. You may even get some great ideas for solving problems that may have been elusive before you left.  

What To Do
Here's the problem: we often feel guilty about getting away and not checking in. Or, we feel we need to keep our hand in projects at the office to make sure they continue to run smoothly.

Try to resist this guilt. Give yourself some much needed rest and relaxation. If you do have to check in, try to do it once per day and then make a conscious decision to not to think about work the rest of the day.

Each time a thought about work creeps in, take a deep breath saying silently, "I breath in calm" and exhale saying, "I am relaxed."

Time for yourself is too valuable to squander. You risk returning to the office just as burned out as you left, without that much needed rejuvenation and increased creativity and energy. 
 
How were you able to truly rejuvenate on vacation? Post your answer below.

All my best,

Jacqueline

Read Conscious Success: The 5 Step Process To Dissolve Stress, Increase Productivity and Find Your Flow at Work for an effective way to manage stress 
 
Events/Publications: 
Stress Management: A Q&A with Jacqueline
Article featured in the July 2012 edition of Contact Center Pipeline
Read it here
 
The Impact of Job Dissatisfaction 
Article featured in the May 2012 edition of Contact Center Pipeline. 
Read it here  
 
64% of Americans Hate Their Job: What This Means For Your Organization  
Webcast hosted by North East Human Resources Association Listen to replay here

Filed Under: Productivity, Stress Management, Uncategorized · Tagged: , ,

How To Reduce Your Negative Reaction to Change

August 6, 2012 by ·

Let's face it, change is constant. It is uncomfortable. Here's a way to reduce your negative reaction to change and to feel more comfortable with it.

Acknowledge Change and Uncomfortable Feelings

When you feel anxious, fearful or are worrying, notice the feelings and give them a label.

By saying…

  • "This is anxiety"
  • "This is worry"
  • "This is fear"

…you detach yourself from the thought and become an observer. The thought and the associated feelings become weaker and have less of a hold on you.  

 

You are more easily able to stop your story from progressing that perpetuates even more anxiety. 

 

 

How does acknowledging feelings help you feel better?

Post your answer below.


All my best,

Jacqueline

Filed Under: Change, Stress Management · Tagged: ,