With deadlines to meet, bills to pay, and family to care for, the myriad of responsibilities and pressures can feel like an invitation to stress without us even realizing it. Some people manage to cope well, while others struggle to find solutions. Here, we explore stress management techniques from 9 high-level executives and founders of major companies worldwide, all of whom have faced their own challenges to reach where they are today.

“Read Before Bed”

– Bill Gates

Bill Gates, the mastermind behind Microsoft, once shared in an interview with The Seattle Times that he reads for at least an hour every night before bed, regardless of how late it is. Over the years, Gates has also adopted many of Warren Buffett's recommendations, the renowned investor, such as simplifying everything.

“His ability is to distill everything down to the essentials, focusing on what is tangible and thinking through simple things. It’s impressive how he can do that; it’s a true hallmark of genius.” In other words, eliminating all the clutter makes it easier to focus on the tasks at hand.

“Stop Caring About Negative Comments”

– Tim Cook

After receiving an honorary degree from The University of Glasgow, Tim Cook, the head of Apple, advised students during his speech to view life positively and to ignore negative and mocking comments that come their way. Listening to everyone’s opinions can create incredible stress.

“Our environment is filled with derisive comments, and we need to stop paying attention to them. Otherwise, it becomes a cancer in our hearts and minds, and whenever you think about it, you immediately have negative thoughts about life.”

“Go Fishing”

– Meg Whitman

The accomplished executive of several large companies, including P&G, eBay, and HP (Hewlett-Packard), Meg Whitman shared in an interview with Fast Company that she loves fly-fishing. She and her son go fishing six times a year.

Why does fishing help reduce stress? Research from The University of California, Merced indicates that having hobbies can alleviate stress and also benefit other aspects of health. This aligns with findings from the National Library of Medicine that regular hobbies can help eliminate negative feelings, such as stress.

“Play the Ukulele”

– Warren Buffett

One of the world’s most successful investors, Warren Buffett, has many hobbies, one of which is playing the ukulele. He has performed with Bon Jovi at charity events and even played live on news shows. Numerous studies, including those from The University of California, Merced, suggest that engaging in hobbies like music can significantly reduce stress.

“Turn Off Your Phone at Night”

– Sheryl Sandberg

One of the executives at Facebook, Sheryl Sandberg, shared that she doesn’t do much to relieve stress, but one thing she avoids is scrolling through her phone, browsing social media, or checking emails at night. She humorously mentioned that it’s painful to turn off her phone, but the results are incredibly rewarding, such as better sleep, which helps her manage stressful situations in the morning.

Many studies show that light from screens inhibits the release of melatonin, the hormone that helps us sleep better. Simply reducing screen time at night can improve our health.

“Spend Time with Family on Weekends”

– Susan Wojcicki

No matter how busy she is, Susan Wojcicki, the female executive of YouTube, makes sure to spend time with herself and those around her. For her, managing stress means dedicating time to herself. She has stated that it’s crucial to allocate time for family before returning to work. “I think it’s very important to take time for yourself. Sometimes, I find that we also receive great things in return from that sacrifice of time.”

“Face Your Fears”

– Elon Musk

In 2008, as the global economy was in recession and the automotive industry was struggling, his electric car company Tesla faced significant challenges, all while he was going through a divorce. It’s needless to say how much stress he was under. Nevertheless, he overcame these issues with calmness and made decisions mindfully.

What’s the secret? At the 2013 Dublin Web Summit and a gathering of entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley, he explained how to cope with such situations: just don’t be afraid of failure.

“Fear has an end, but hope does not. We fear failure, but that doesn’t stop us from trying. We should be clear about ignoring reasonable fears, but if it’s rational and worth the risk, it’s still worth pursuing.”

“Focus on Self-Confidence”

– Indra Nooyi

The female executive of PepsiCo, Indra Nooyi, learned about confidence and work ethics from a young age. She told Business Insider that every evening at the dinner table, her mother would challenge her and her sister by asking what they would do if they were prime ministers or presidents. Each day, the questions varied, and her mother would judge who won. Besides her mother, her grandfather, a judge, also encouraged her to be confident. If she couldn’t do something, he would make her write “I will not make excuses” 200 times. These experiences pushed her to where she is today, and Nooyi constantly reminds herself that she can handle stressful situations.

“I often tell myself, I can do these things better than others, and if things fail, they will come to me to fix it because I know I’m capable.” She concluded by saying, “Remember, I can be the president of India.”

“Laugh More”

– Jeff Bezos

“In my case, it’s to laugh a lot,” said Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, in an interview with the Academy of Achievement. Stress often arises from neglecting things that shouldn’t be ignored. “Most of the time, stress comes from being unable to do something you once could control.” He continued, “I find ways to manage it immediately, like starting a phone call, sending an email, or doing anything I think will help alleviate that stressful situation, even if it doesn’t resolve it.

– The only truth we are addressing is to help reduce the stress that may arise from things we cannot control.” In other words, identify the problem, address it, control it, and move forward.

SOURCE : www.iurban.in.th