American Association for Physician Leadership

Self-Management

Stressed Out? Here Are Ways to Better Manage the Pressure

Harvard Business Review

November 29, 2017


Summary:

How you handle the tension plays a huge role in determining how resilient you are. Start by asking yourself how you respond when you’re under pressure.





How you handle the tension plays a huge role in determining how resilient you are. Start by asking yourself how you respond when you’re under pressure.

No matter how brave, hardworking and intelligent you may be, there comes a time when stress becomes overwhelming and you get triggered. When you’re triggered, the emotional part of your brain takes over.

Over time, these reactions can lead to acute anxiety, depression, irritability, fatigue and other health problems.

How you manage stressful situations plays a huge role in determining how resilient you are.

Here are three suggestions for handling your stress better.

GET TO KNOW YOUR STRESS REACTIONS

Start by asking yourself how you respond when you’re under pressure:

  • How does stress affect you physically (e.g., tightness in your chest, sweating, knots in your stomach, headaches, etc.)?

  • How does stress affect you psychologically or emotionally (e.g., feeling out of control)?

  • How do you de-stress (e.g., laughing, meditating, practicing yoga, reading, etc.)

RELATED: Fightning Physician Burnout at the Organizational Level

IDENTIFY YOUR TRIGGERS

If you pay attention to the times when you experience severe stress, you’ll begin to notice a pattern — there is usually someone or something that triggers these emotions. The good news is, once you are aware of your triggers, you can manage how you react to them. The following questions are helpful in identifying your triggers:

  • It makes me angry when … .

  • I become overwhelmed when … .

  • I feel offended when … .

  • I wish people would … .

RELATED: More Articles Related to Physician Wellness and Burnout

PRACTICE MANAGING YOUR STRESS

Identify one situation that tends to challenge you emotionally, then ask yourself:

  • How is the situation impacting me physically, emotionally and psychologically?

  • What specifically triggers these feelings and emotions?

  • What action can I take to manage the situation and my emotional response more effectively?

Copyright 2017 Harvard Business School Publishing Corp. Distributed by The New York Times Syndicate.

Harvard Business Review

Harvard Business Publishing (HBP) was founded in 1994 as a not-for-profit, wholly-owned subsidiary of Harvard University, reporting into Harvard Business School . Our mission is to improve the practice of management in a changing world. This mission influences how we approach what we do here and what we believe is important.

With approximately 450 employees, primarily based in Boston, with offices in New York City, India, and the United Kingdom, Harvard Business Publishing serves as a bridge between academia and enterprises around the globe through its publications and multiple platforms for content delivery, and its reach into three markets: academic, corporate, and individual managers. Harvard Business Publishing has a conventional governance structure comprising a Board of Directors , an internal Executive Committee , and Business Unit Directors.



About HBR

Interested in sharing leadership insights? Contribute



For over 45 years.

The American Association for Physician Leadership has helped physicians develop their leadership skills through education, career development, thought leadership and community building.

The American Association for Physician Leadership (AAPL) changed its name from the American College of Physician Executives (ACPE) in 2014. We may have changed our name, but we are the same organization that has been serving physician leaders since 1975.

CONTACT US

Mail Processing Address
PO Box 96503 I BMB 97493
Washington, DC 20090-6503

Payment Remittance Address
PO Box 745725
Atlanta, GA 30374-5725
(800) 562-8088
(813) 287-8993 Fax
customerservice@physicianleaders.org

CONNECT WITH US

LOOKING TO ENGAGE YOUR STAFF?

AAPL providers leadership development programs designed to retain valuable team members and improve patient outcomes.

American Association for Physician Leadership®

formerly known as the American College of Physician Executives (ACPE)