Are you overwhelmed by work and life? Do you stay up late at night worrying about your to do list? Does stress about upcoming deadlines take you away from being present with your loved ones?
Stress is caused by your saboteurs, specifically the judge, the avoider and the hyper-achiever.
👿 The judge saboteur criticizes your actions, thoughts and appearance. This relentless criticism creates a state of perpetual tension, making you feel inadequate and insecure. When does your judgy inner critic show up the most? My judge gets loud when I’m doing something for the first time. Trying something new.
🚫 The avoider saboteur encourages you to steer clear of uncomfortable tasks and emotions, piling up stress through procrastination and avoidance. And when you avoid important things, they grow in their negative impact and cause even more stress.
I’ve helped many clients ditch their avoider saboteur and learn to take bold action in their life. They often report that worrying about the task causes more stress than doing the task. Have you ever spent hours stressing about a task that only took a matter of minutes to complete? I’m 100% guilty of this.
⚒️ Finally, the hyper-achiever saboteur ties your self-worth to your accomplishments, pushing you to do more and be more, often at the expense of your well-being. This is the “I will be happy when” mindset. “I will be happy when I get that job, when I get that promotion, when I find that relationship”. But there is no end to the next big things to achieve. Does this sound like you?
One of my high-achieving clients has changed her approach to her email inbox. She handles the high-priority items right away but takes her time responding to the less urgent emails. She focuses more on quality and output than responding to every email right away. This has given her more space and less stress in her life.
When your saboteurs dominate, stress becomes a constant background noise, pulling you away from the present moment. 🚨 You cannot feel stress if you are completely present. Being present allows you to focus on what’s happening now, rather than getting lost in worries about the past or future.
Do you have a meditation practice? Meditation is a powerful antidote to stress. By anchoring yourself in the present, you can quiet the voices of your saboteurs and reduce the stress they cause. Meditation helps you observe your thoughts without judgment, fostering a sense of calm and clarity 🧘🏽
🛫 As I prepare for my upcoming trip to the Silicon Valley for the Future of Memory and Storage conference, I’m mindful of staying present. My schedule includes delivering a confidence-building workshop, moderating a career panel for the first time, facilitating a roundtable discussion, and networking with industry professionals. It’s a packed agenda, but I’m determined not to let stress overshadow my work, or my time with my children before my departure.
What are some ways you can reduce stress by staying present?
🧘🏽♀️ Practice mindfulness: spend a few minutes each day focusing on your breath. Notice the sensations in your body and the thoughts passing through your mind without getting attached to them.
🥅 Set intentions: before starting a new task, take a moment to set a clear intention. This can help you stay focused and present in your activities.
⛓️💥 Take breaks: schedule short breaks throughout your day to reset and recharge. Use these breaks to stretch, take a walk, or simply breathe.
🏃🏽♀️➡️ Move your body: do a vigorous workout to boost your clarity and focus. I did the Grouse Grind mountain hike the day before my trip to clear my mind, get into my body, and release some stress-reducing endorphins.
👂🏽 Engage fully: when interacting with others, give them your full attention. Listen actively and engage with their words, rather than thinking about your response, or your next task.
❤️ Use gratitude: each day, reflect on what you’re grateful for and celebrate your wins. This shifts your focus from what’s stressing you to what’s uplifting you.
As I embark on my journey to the Silicon Valley, I’m committed to staying present, ensuring that I bring my best self to every interaction and every moment, both professionally and personally.
Looking to reduce stress and become the unstoppable version of you? Check out my Autumn Confidence Bootcamp 🍂 starting September 23: https://youtu.be/HbILdlIQdw8?si=J8mrlrK5guTtBWWk
Lots of love,
-Anna
