Late career professionals are often overwhelmed by stress. What can they do to stay on top of their game?

If you are a late career professional, you might feel the pressure of competing with younger and more tech-savvy colleagues, meeting the expectations of your boss and clients, and planning for your retirement. All these factors can cause you to experience chronic stress, which can harm your physical and mental health, as well as your performance and satisfaction at work. However, you don't have to let stress get the best of you. In this article, we will share some practical tips on how to manage stress effectively and stay on top of your game as a late career professional.

1 Identify your stressors

The first step to managing stress is to identify what triggers it. Stressors can vary from person to person, but some common ones for late career professionals are workload, deadlines, communication, feedback, change, uncertainty, and conflict. Once you know what causes you stress, you can take steps to reduce or avoid it. For example, you can prioritize your tasks, delegate or outsource some of them, set realistic goals, communicate clearly and assertively, seek constructive feedback, embrace change as an opportunity, and resolve conflicts peacefully.

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Carola Becker

Head of Wellbeing
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A simple list can help to prioritise your workload: write down everything on your mind, big or small. Then create 3 groups: what is urgent, what can you delegate, what can wait. Try to remain flexible to avoid further stress! Break bigger tasks into smaller steps. And cross completed tasks off your list. Success!

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2 Practice self-care

The second step to managing stress is to practice self-care. Self-care means taking care of your physical, emotional, and mental well-being. This includes getting enough sleep, eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, drinking plenty of water, avoiding alcohol and tobacco, and relaxing. Self-care also involves doing things that make you happy, such as hobbies, interests, social activities, and spending time with your loved ones. By practicing self-care, you can boost your immune system, mood, energy, and resilience to stress.

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Carola Becker

Head of Wellbeing
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Self-care can be far down on your list when you are stressed. Rather than trying to do too many things at once, I would focus on one strategy at a time. Start with something easy: Drink a glass of water before you drink your coffee; eat one piece of fruit every day; get outside for 10min at lunch time Once this is in place and feels automatic, go from there and add another self-care habit.

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3 Learn new skills

The third step to managing stress is to learn new skills. Learning new skills can help you cope with stress, as well as improve your confidence, creativity, and competitiveness in the workplace. You can learn new skills by taking online courses, reading books, watching videos, listening to podcasts, or joining workshops. You can also seek mentorship or coaching from someone who has the skills you want to acquire. Learning new skills can also prepare you for your retirement, as you can use them to pursue new opportunities or passions.

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4 Seek support

The fourth step to managing stress is to seek support. Support can come from various sources, such as your family, friends, colleagues, manager, mentors, coaches, counselors, or therapists. Support can help you cope with stress by providing you with emotional, practical, or professional assistance. You can seek support by reaching out to your network, joining a support group, asking for help, sharing your feelings, or seeking professional advice. Support can also help you feel less isolated, more valued, and more motivated.

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5 Adjust your mindset

The fifth step to managing stress is to adjust your mindset. Mindset refers to the way you think about yourself, your situation, and your future. A positive mindset can help you manage stress by enhancing your optimism, gratitude, and self-compassion. You can adjust your mindset by challenging negative thoughts, reframing problems as challenges, focusing on solutions, acknowledging your achievements, expressing gratitude, and being kind to yourself. A positive mindset can also help you enjoy your work, embrace change, and look forward to your retirement.

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6 Plan your retirement

The sixth step to managing stress is to plan your retirement. Retirement can be a source of stress for late career professionals, as it involves a major life transition, financial uncertainty, and identity loss. However, retirement can also be a source of joy, freedom, and fulfillment, if you plan it well. You can plan your retirement by setting your goals, budgeting your finances, exploring your options, preparing your documents, and consulting your experts. You can also plan your retirement by envisioning your lifestyle, finding your purpose, and pursuing your passions.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Helena Herrero Lamuedra

Reinvention Coach for executives 55+: design a meaningful next act, beyond a corporate career
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Executives at the top of their careers often grapple with amplified stress levels. This may stem from a profound recognition that their current roles may not align with the grander purpose and lasting impact they aspire to imprint on companies and family It marks a pivotal juncture to pause, reflect, forge connections between disparate elements, and distill a clear, streamlined path forward. This phase calls for refinement, simplification, curation. and design of the future path. A stage of immense creativity and vigor -rather than a culmination, it represents a transition into a phase of high energy and creativity—a prime time where aspirations and experience give birth to transformative outcomes and enduring legacies.

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Late career professionals are often overwhelmed by stress. What can they do to stay on top of their game?

1

2

3

4

5

6

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1 Identify your stressors

2 Practice self-care

3 Learn new skills

4 Seek support

5 Adjust your mindset

6 Plan your retirement

7 Here’s what else to consider

Stress Management

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Late career professionals are often overwhelmed by stress. What can they do to stay on top of their game?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Identify your stressors

2 Practice self-care

3 Learn new skills

4 Seek support

5 Adjust your mindset

6 Plan your retirement

7 Here’s what else to consider

Stress Management

Rate this article

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