Stress Test
Humans are “built” for performance and stress. High-performance tasks—both physical and cognitive—challenge us and energize us. This keeps us healthy and motivated in the long term. However, this is true only under two conditions. We need a balance between tension and relaxation, and between rushing and pausing. In stressful situations, we need the option to fight or flee in order to cushion the stress response.
Recognize your limits early on
The simple quick test
01. Emotional exhaustion
Have I been feeling more exhausted than usual lately? Take the couch test. Friday night on the couch—how am I feeling? It’s always about the perceived change.
02. Performance
How capable do I feel? How well can I handle current demands?
03. Cynicism
How often do I catch myself making cynical remarks? Where do I use biting language?
Stress Management in 3 Steps
Take the self-assessment, identify your stress triggers and energy boosters, and practice stress management in 3 steps.
Task:
- Step 1: Traffic Light & Battery Check
To begin the training, you should first complete the Traffic Light and Battery Check.
- Step 3: Action When evaluating your results, please review your completed questionnaire: If your traffic light check is in the “red zone” five times or more and your battery is also “barely charged,” then action is needed and you should recharge your batteries.
- Step 3: Action
- Write down two specific actions you can take to recharge your batteries on a small piece of paper. Carry this note in your wallet as a reminder.
- Find a support partner who can remind you from time to time.
- If you’re in the “green zone,” think of ways to maintain this state.
Physical Early Warning System
We all have a built-in physical early warning system. Typical signs can include back pain, headaches, stomach pressure, heart palpitations, ear problems, and the like. It’s about being mindful of yourself. Just as we take our car in for a service check, we can do the same for ourselves.
To reiterate: cars that sit in the garage are in worse shape than long-distance cars that are well-maintained. On the flip side, I saw the following saying on a postcard: “The difficult thing about doing nothing is that you don’t know when you’re done.”
