1. Focus on your wellbeing

Getting the sleep you need is crucial to functioning at your best. Most of us need six to eight hours of sleep every night. Figure out how many hours you need to be at your best and set a schedule that works for you. Stay away from your computer monitor or phone at least one hour before bedtime. The blue spectrum of light from electronics can block the release of melatonin, which puts you to sleep. Practice before-bed rituals that help relax or lull you to sleep. Try a meditation sleep app, read a relaxing novel or poetry, pray, or listen to soothing music.

Exercise is one of the best ways to alleviate overwhelm and stay healthy, but making it a habit can be challenging. To incorporate exercise into your daily routine, try scheduling it, just like your most important meeting. To increase your odds of success in making exercise a habit, start small and enlist an accountability partner.

2. Begin your day with morning intentions

Positive affirmations can unleash your creativity, open your mind, and energise you for the day. Some people do this when they first wake up; others find it’s easier to do with their first cup of coffee or before an important meeting. Think about what you would like your day to look like and how you want to feel. Examples include “calm and confident,” “patient and focused,” or “energised and strategic.”

3. Lean on your support system

Asking for help is a strength, not a weakness. Build resilience by reaching out to a loving family member, a close friend, a trustworthy colleague, an understanding mentor, or a professional therapist when facing a challenge that cannot be readily resolved on your own.

Don’t hesitate to speak up about your concerns and frustrations. Talking to someone in your support system can provide empathy and a sounding board, shift your perspective, and remind you that you are not alone in your challenge or helpless when removing a roadblock. Asking for help also fosters stronger relationships and connections and enables greater awareness on your end of what others may need.

4. Normalise failure for yourself and others

Everyone likes to win and be successful, but failure is a part of life. Adopting a mindset that normalises failure can help you embrace more challenges, take greater risks, seek constructive feedback, and improve your performance and likelihood of success. One strategy is to define success by setting realistic and meaningful goals for yourself and your team. Establish an environment that acknowledges that people can improve in the future, learn from the circumstances, and be accountable for their actions to set you and your team up for success in the future.

5. Celebrate the small wins

At the end of every week or once a month, schedule time to write down your achievements. Don’t wait to do this just for the major accomplishments – it’s important to recognise even small wins as they contribute to building your brand, your reputation, and your resilience. Ask yourself, “What impact did I make this week or month?” 

6. Reframe your perspective

See problems as opportunities. Be a cautious optimist rather than a pessimist. This will inspire commitment and channel positive energy from those around you. There are always reasons why something won’t succeed or why an idea may be too risky, unprecedented, or unusual to support. Often, these are situations of high risk but high reward if successful. Approaching such situations with cautious optimism rather than pessimism will motivate everyone to bring their best to address the challenge. Putting your best foot forward with confidence will maximise the likelihood of success, while a mindset that is apprehensive will translate to a lack of confidence and inability to perform at your best, thereby decreasing the chances of success.

Implement these steps to build your resilience without adding to your stress, and ultimately create a stronger and more empowered version of yourself.

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