3 ways stress is affecting your success

There was a time when I was interviewing for jobs that I would say working well under pressure as one of my strengths. As an entrepreneur, I am realizing that this isn’t true!  Here are 3 ways that I think stress is holding us back from success:

1. Stress affects our health in negative ways

   When we’re stressed out we often disregard our health. Whether it’s not eating enough, or too much stuff that’s not good for us, when we’re we don’t take care of ourselves, it’s difficult to be at your best. When we are stressed for long periods of times, if affects our health in negative ways; high blood pressure, heart disease and even pain in the body are side effects of long term stress. If we’re not at our best from a wellness perspective, how can we possible give our all to our goals? It is important to find an effective way to deal with our stress so we don’t make ourselves sick!

2. We lose focus

   Our mental health also suffers the effects of long-term stress. When we’re stressed, it’s hard to focus on the things that need to get done. Maybe it’s that we’re overwhelmed with the amount of work that actually needs to get done. In this case, it’s necessary to ask for the help you need. Take it from me, not every project can or should be “Do-it-Yourself”. Sometimes it’s worth your mental well-being to hire someone else to do it for you! Stop putting pressure on yourself to get everything done immediately. Big goals take time to achieve. Focus on the tasks that will bring you closer to your goals. Don’t give too much time or energy to anything that is out of your control. Those are usually the things that cause of the most stress!

3. It makes affects our mood

   Keeping a positive outlook when you’re feeling stressed out, can be challenging. When we’re stressed out, our patience is low, we’re constantly on edge. If we’re not careful, we can burn bridges and lose out on key connections because we don’t take the time to pause when our tempers flare. Personal and professional relationships can be damaged if we don’t find the right outlets to deal with the pressures we feel when we are stressed. The injured relationships and our feelings of guilt after the fact aren’t going to get us any closer to our goals. It’s important to have a level of self-awareness that allows you to recognize when it’s time to step away, or utilize tools to neutralize the situation in your mind.

Few of us are living without some level of stress in our lives. The key is to ensure that you don’t allow it to take over your life. You can encounter stressful situations in your life, but stressed should not be your relaxed state! If you feel that your stress level is affecting your life, investigate tools to reduce it. Seek professional help if necessary. You don’t have to figure it out on your own!

It’s all about shifting where you focus your energy. Focus on all you have to be grateful for and you’ll realize you’re too stressed to be blessed! ♥