I´ve got to be completely honest with you. It was a rough landing back in Burkina Faso after a summer break.
It wasn´t the fact that I had to spray 40% DEET on my kids again to avoid getting Malaria or Dengue. Nor was it from the tension I feel in my body when my littlest takes a big gulp of unfiltered water from the bathtub.
When I put my finger on it, I was stressed about coming back to a context where talk was in the air about “what if” Ebola makes its way to Burkina Faso.
In this context, I get stretched.
This form of stress (the kind that bears down on your shoulders heavily like the boxes on the men´s shoulders above) is worth paying close attetion to. And I certainly do, because I know that how we handle this stress has a decisive impact on our health, our relationships and our productivity at work.
In this month´s guest post for intercultures – I share seven coping mechanisms that can change the stress game.
- If you are bearing the weight of stress in a highly challenging context, this is my invitation to you to explore how these seven coping mechanisms can positively (or negatively) impact you, your family, your work or your team.
- If you are a manager, you will come away with a better understanding of the complexity some expats face abroad. I also give you a list of powerful questions that you can use when supporting any team under pressure.
Get the seven game-changing strategies for stress management.
P.S. When you´ve finished the article, join me in the comments section below to share coping mechanisms from your culture or personal practices, ask questions or make a comment.
Stress is on everyone’s mind (and body) .It must also be understood that there is positive stress and negative stress . I for one know (and you can verify this statement by looking at my profile) that I absolutely thrive on positive stress. However what I still consider positive stress that makes me perform at a higher level, may well be already on the negative side of the curve for someone of a different disposition. Once you are there I believe it is futile to try and cope as the result can be a permanent impairment ( PTSD). Get the hell out of there as fast as you can.
Hi Mario – I totally agree with you how positive stress can be a huge motivator. I am one of those people who thrives when the stakes are high. You totally nailed it when you said that what is “postive” stress for one, can be misery for another. Speaking in public is one of those examples. I love it – others have nightmares about it. And yes, PTSD is in a league of its own! Thank you for sharing your perspective. I appreciate it.