G'day Reader

Feeling the impact of increased stress? Does it matter?

Stress reduces our ability to perform at optimum levels.

So, as times get tough and we get more stressed, we might struggle to perform at our best at the very time we need to do our best work.

If you're not more stressed than a year ago, you're doing well.

Not only are we watching record levels of business failure, but
we are also watching record levels of human burnout too.

Burnout is the end result. A finish line to avoid.

Increasing stress is the beginning of that journey.

The dangerous thing about increasing stress is it creeps up on you.

That was the case for me a decade ago when I burnt out.

My burnout cost me millions and almost my life.

I don't want you or members of your team to face that.

Let's take a look at how you can notice stress in yourself and others and what you can do to alleviate it.

My 2-3 year well-being recovery journey and then deeper dive into well-being including becoming accredited to deliver the GLWS leadership well-being assessment tool is the basis of what I'm covering today.

This isn't medical advice. If you or somebody in your team is potentially a danger to themselves, please contact your GP or other medical support.

Common Effects of Stress

On Your Body

• headache
• muscle tension (neck is common)
• chest pain
• fatigue
• change in sex drive
• stomach upset
• sleep problems
• getting sick easier - weaker immune system

On Your Mood

• anxiety
• restlessness
• lack of motivation or focus
• feeling overwhelmed
• grumpiness or anger
• sadness or depression

On Your Behaviour

• over or under-eating
• angry outbursts
• drug or alcohol misuse
• tobacco use
• avoiding friends and staying at home
• exercising less often

The ones I've highlighted are what I suffered to a lesser or larger degree.

As I said earlier, these can creep on you. Others might see them in you and you might see them in others.

I stupidly persisted for 2-3 years (thinking I was invincible) but was hospitalised 5 times in 12 months and stress turned into disease, having cardiac and kidney issues plus 2 tumours surgically removed (benign).

I owned 5 businesses and 10 properties as these symptoms were impacting my health & well-being. I later realised I was being defrauded, and they added pressure on me to make the fraud easier for them to carry out.

Actions I Took That Improved My Well-Being

• Got more sleep - and quality of sleep (this is tough when working late)
• Daily exercise routine - mainly just walking (I'd stopped using the gym)
• Food/meals/diet - improve nutrition & time of meals (get chef to help)
• Maintain a sense of humour - watch your favourite comic on YouTube
• Spend time with family & friends - relax first (give them the best you)
• Meditate - this was a game changer for me - hard to start but worth it
• Journal - daily thoughts on paper and 'attitude of gratitude' diary

Like anything, when we start something new that involves forming new habits, we need to be conscious about doing things for 21-28 days.

Don't try to do everything at once. Pick 2-3 things and try them for a few days to see what you like and enjoy and feel benefit from.

The Way You Feel Impacts How Well You Do.

When I talk about well-being, I'm looking at it from a holistic perspective which includes all of these elements of your "well" "being":

• physical
• mental
• emotional
• psychological
• social
• spiritual
• financial

I hope this is useful for you.

If you want more info, I have a short video that might be useful for you.

Request free well-being video training here and I'll send it within 48 hours.

Most of all, if you're feeling the pressure build-up, do something.

Don't leave it thinking, "it will be ok when [this] happens"

The chances are that [this] won't happen and the pressure gets worse.

I had 5 hospitalisations within 12 months.

I kept thinking I'll be ok if I can just...

...and ultimately, I couldn't.

I wasn't invincible, despite thinking I had been.

if you want to chat about anything else just reply to this email.

Have a great week.

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Remember, we're stronger together.😎

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David

David Carruthers
Founder, Future of Hospitality

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PS - Register here for the free monthly Future of Hospitality audio event
(I was late posting this month's - sorry)

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