2149: Tackle Work Stress With These Practical Tips by Chris Libby with LiveHappy on Work-Life Balance

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[00:00:30] This episode is brought to you by Accenture. When your advertising operations fall out of sync, everything else follows. Spotify and Accenture are working together to reinvent the rhythm of ad sales, using automation, analytics and smarter workflows to simplify campaign delivery and access better data across the business. The result? Less time spent on operations, more time connecting brands with the moments and fandoms that matter most. Learn more at Accenture.com slash Spotify.

[00:01:00] This is Optimal Work Daily. Tackle work stress with these practical tips by Chris Libby of LiveHappy.com. The workplace. It's where we spend one-third of each day and at least 90,000 hours in a lifetime. Research by Harvard Medical School, UCLA, and the Rand Corporation found that the workplace in America is, quote,

[00:01:23] a physically and emotionally taxing place. What's more, two-thirds of Americans say they work under tight deadlines, with 25% saying they lack the time to do their jobs. Yet, when employees have higher levels of well-being at work, everyone wins. Employees enjoy their lives more in and out of the workplace, and employers see an increase in productivity. Invest in wellness. Invest in wellness.

[00:01:48] A 2010 study published in the journal Health Affairs found that for every dollar a company spends on a wellness program, its return on investment is $3.27. Employees feel valued their company cares about their well-being, and in turn, employee performance more than doubles, according to a study by Wright Management. Researchers also found employees who take advantage of wellness programs contribute the equivalent of an extra day of work and productivity every month.

[00:02:14] Tony Ferris, a certified yoga instructor in Plano, Texas, teaches the art of mindfulness to businesses large and small. We wear our overworked status as a badge of honor, which may lead, she explains, to a false sense of value and security. She says, quote, We have a culture of suffering. The more suffering you do, the more important you are. It's not helpful. End quote. She should know.

[00:02:40] Before embarking on her mindful journey, Tony worked for the accounting firm Arthur Anderson, and the stress wreaked havoc on her health. Overworking yourself leads to stress, she notes. The decision-making process narrows, and the quality of the work can be affected. Strategy and balance, both physical and emotional, come from a relaxed place, she says. Talk with your human resources department to bring someone like Tony into the office.

[00:03:07] If a mindfulness consultant isn't an option, she offers a few tips to get you started. Number one, be nice. Compassion is a kind of social superglue that holds everything together. Christopher Cuck, Ph.D., author of The Compassionate Achiever, How Helping Others Fuel Success, finds that compassion can create a friendlier and happier workplace, increase productivity, and improve health.

[00:03:31] To change your mindset to be more compassionate at work, Christopher recommends changing your feelings about achieving success. He says, quote,

[00:04:04] End quote. He suggests reflecting on how your success has benefited from others. This will make you more inclined to contribute to the successes of your colleagues. When compassion flows, a business grows, he adds. 2. Get more shut-eye According to the Sainsbury's Living Well Index, conducted by Oxford Economics and the National Center for Social Research in the UK,

[00:04:31] 50% of participants polled would rather have a good night's sleep than a pay raise. Matthew Walker, Ph.D., director of UC Berkeley's Sleep and Neuroimaging Lab and the author of the new book, Why We Sleep, says that more than $400 billion in our economy is lost due to poor sleeping habits. What's more, sleep deficits make us more prone to lying at work and other deviant behaviors. The sleepless also lack in areas of creativity, problem-solving, and charisma.

[00:05:01] One thing we can do is drop the mindset that more sleep equates to laziness, he says. Quote, End quote.

[00:05:29] Aside from the obvious health benefits of sleep, it builds a strong immune system, lowers risk of stroke, heart attacks, diabetes, and depression, it also improves our performance at work. Employees who sleep more, according to Matthew's book, earn more money too. Just an extra hour of sleep can improve your financial situation. Quick biz tips 1. Take a stand

[00:05:53] According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reducing occupational sitting by 66 minutes per day can boost your mood and reduce upper back and neck pain. 2. Eat lunch with colleagues Cornell University researchers studied firehouses in large cities and witnessed that work group performance was enhanced when firefighters broke bread together. And 3. Keep it positive

[00:06:19] In her book, Conscious Communications, entrepreneur and author Mary Shores recommends stopping yourself when you start to think or talk in a negative way. She says that the words we use define who we are, and the negativity can spread throughout an office and even to the customer. Tony's Tips for Tackling Stress Before work 1. Use an alarm clock with a soothing tone Waking up in a panic is never good

[00:06:48] 2. Try getting ready in the morning without the TV or radio. Incorporate more silence. And 3. Add an extra 20 to 30 minutes to your routine so you are not in a rush. At work 1. Find a quiet space in your office for about 10 to 15 minutes and use a mindfulness or meditation app. In a pinch, use your car. 2. After lunch is the best time to relax. 3. Rest and digest is the opposite of fight or flight.

[00:07:17] You'll feel better for the remainder of the day after a constructive rest. And 3. If possible, let your co-workers know you need time to process any requests before committing. After work 1. Set boundaries with yourself and work. Don't answer emails or calls after a certain time. And 2. Turn off electronics one hour before bed. This will help your brain decompress.

[00:07:42] You just listened to the post titled, Tackle Work Stress with These Practical Tips by Chris Libby of LiveHappy.com Queen Carvania stood haloed by the morning sun. An army hung on her every word. My champions! I have sold my chariot on Carvana! T'was a lovely SUV. An inexplicably queenly offer.

[00:08:12] They're even coming to the castle to collect it! Tonight, we feast! An offer you can feast on. Sell your car today on Carvana. Pickup fees may apply. This episode is brought to you by Accenture. When your advertising operations fall out of sync, everything else follows. Spotify and Accenture are working together to reinvent the rhythm of ad sales. Using automation, analytics, and smarter workflows to simplify campaign delivery

[00:08:42] and access better data across the business. The result? Less time spent on operations, more time connecting brands with the moments and fandoms that matter most. Learn more at Accenture.com slash Spotify. And a big thank you to Chris, who is the section editor over at LiveHappy. Now that's a site that takes you on a journey to find your authentic happiness in life, at work, and at home through inspiring stories and hands-on tips rooted in the science of positive psychology.

[00:09:10] They are also a national magazine. They've got a podcast, a line of gifts, and a line of apparel. Their award-winning content offers in-depth features and the latest news on mindfulness, health and wellness, gratitude, and resilience, all delivered through fascinating stories about people, whether they be celebrities, authors, or ordinary people with extraordinary lives. So come by LiveHappy.com to learn much, much more. And with that, I wish you a great rest of your day, and I will, of course, see you back here tomorrow,

[00:09:40] where I'll have another episode and where your optimal life awaits.