Sarah Breen, JD’s Post

Everyone understands stress, and most people attribute their stress to obvious things like difficulty at work, or a challenging relationship. But most people don't realize that a lot of "little" things can accumulate to really stress you out and take you off your game. Here are some steps to help you identify, and minimize, some of the things that may be causing you problems.

We often don’t realise how the small, everyday stresses – known as microstresses – accumulate, affecting both our productivity and well-being. Through research (read this #HBR article below) 14 common sources of microstress were identified, ranging from surges in responsibilities and unpredictable behaviours to confrontational conversations and pressures that challenge our identity. What’s clear is that these microstresses come not only from our professional lives but also from personal relationships. However, it’s not about changing those relationships, but adjusting the interactions within them. 💡 One key takeaway? Start small. Focus on manageable microstresses each week, such as realigning responsibilities or fostering trust in your network. Over time, these small changes can reshape how we approach stress and help us live more fulfilling lives. Let’s rethink our approach to well-being – it’s not just about absorbing stress, but actively mitigating it. What microstresses have you experienced, and how are you managing them? #Leadership #Wellbeing #Microstress #Resilience #EmployeeExperience https://lnkd.in/dj93rxEn

Women experience greater microstress than men, with particularly notable gaps for women in dealing with draining or negative interactions with family and friends, confrontational conversations, and the volume and diversity of collaborative demands. This study's respondents who were ethnic minorities also experienced greater stress in certain areas: pressure to pursue goals out of sync with personal values, political maneuvering, and uncertainty about others’ reliability. We all have our own unique set of microstresses that stand to drain us, especially in today's hyper-connected world. Personally, I feel deep desire for harmony, which has set me up to be a connector and bridge builder in my communities - organizing company gathering to bring people together, smoothing over miscommunicaitons and hurt feelings between friends and family, and ever playing the diplomat. What we care most about is bound to be our greatest source of stress. Once again, this research by Rob Cross, Karen Dillon, and Kevin Martin resonates so deeply. 💛This article in particular is gold because is outlines the steps to peel back your anxiety and start to reframe and reprioritize to relieve some microstress.

Are you and your team struggling to keep your head above water in the tsunami of everyday microstress? A staggering 67% of people surveyed at larger organizations cited burnout as the most significant driver of potential talent loss for their organizations. But our research and experiments at several Fortune 100 organizations also offers hope. Karen Dillon, Kevin Martin and I lay out five steps to help you identify where (and from whom) your stress is coming from, and how you can proactively reduce it without burning bridges in our latest Harvard Business Review article. Check out our findings here: https://lnkd.in/eCS6_c8P #stressmanagement #productivity #worklifebalance The Institute for Corporate Productivity (i4cp)

🌍 Wherever you're sitting in the world this weekend, you'll be rewarded for setting aside the time to read this new Harvard Business Review article on how to deal with #microstresses. It's one of those articles you'll be grateful to have read, and want to share with everyone you know, your teams, your colleagues, and your personal networks. With appreciation to the authors #i4cp team members Rob Cross and Kevin Martin and co-author, Karen Dillon for the insight, the extensive research, and the gift of 5 applicable steps to reducing everyday Microstresses. https://lnkd.in/g2qbVvyj

Microstresses are the accumulation of unnoticed small stresses from routine interactions, and they are often so brief that we barely register them. Individually, these microstresses seem manageable, but cumulatively they take a toll. How can you identify and reduce them? This article lays out 5 steps that will help you identify where your stress is coming from and how you can proactively reduce it without burning bridges. It is based on research and experiments at several Fortune 100 organizations. Harvard Business Review #Microstresses #WorkplaceWellness #StressManagement #EmployeeWellbeing #WorkLifeBalance #HealthyWorkplace

Since change is constant, I’m always keen to learn how we can effectively help our team and peers reduce the stress that comes with change. This article on microstress dives into the cost of burnout and provides practical guidance on “taking corrective action that can make a material impact on your life.”

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by seemingly small interactions that happen every day? These "microstresses" can add up and take a major toll over time. In this HBR article, the authors explain what microstresses are and offer tips to reduce them. If you're looking to start small, try addressing one easy microstress per week and focusing on positive interactions that build resilience. What's one microstress you could tackle this week? Check out the article here: https://lnkd.in/g-r9_CnG...

It's the little things that often make the greatest difference. ***** Microstresses are the accumulation of unnoticed small stresses from routine interactions, and often are so brief that we barely register them. Individually, these microstresses might seem manageable, but cumulatively they take an enormous toll. How can you identify and reduce them? This article, based on research and experiments at several Fortune 100 organizations, lays out five steps that will help you identify where (and from whom) your stress is coming from, and how you can proactively reduce it without burning bridges.

Check out these five key steps that can help you manage micro stresses and give you more daily energy.