Take a Moment for Yourself

May 7, 2019
A wellness expert shares tips on how to deal with stress head-on at your business.

It’s important to have a handle on your emotional state when you’re faced with an unexpected or stressful situation. When it comes to mental health, it’s critical to not only take care of yourself, but also ultimately remain grounded when faced with a difficult decision or circumstance.

Deborah Snider, nurse practitioner and holistic life and wellness coach, says stress can take physical hold of your body and affect you greatly.

“Stress gives us headaches, stomach aches and it makes us tired,” she says.

Throughout Snider’s career, she’s spent time working in stressful situations that have often caught her off guard or made her reevaluate her emotions.

"I can't tell you how many times on a busy day—when there's a possible conflict that I'm going to be in front of or an important task—that I will take just a moment to take two deep, slow breaths before I respond and step into my task," she says. "I take a couple of deep breaths and now I'm centered.”

According to Snider, when you take time to focus on yourself, then you’re able to show up refreshed later on.

"Anything that nurtures me as a human being is going to increase my happiness and my peace," she says. "Interestingly enough, with a business, [self-care] increases productivity and efficiency."

Snider shares tips on how to deal with stress, as well as ultimately come back into the moment and leave on a positive note.
 

As told to Kiley Wellendorf

When an issue comes forward, give your full attention. As a business owner, it’s important to take time to listen to your employees when they need  assistance or have an issue that arises. Give your employee your full attention and try to determine what his or her needs are, as well as what is getting in the way.

You want to show your employees that they’re valued and that their issues matter to you and the company. When you show empathy, it lets the employee know that you care about them, you recognize that their wellbeing is important, and you’re going to resolve the issue.
 

If you feel out of control in a situation, put the conversation on a temporary hold in order to reflect. When you experience a stressful situation, it can be difficult to concentrate or formulate an answer to the situation—that’s OK. To bounce back after a stressful situation, take a break and come back to later revisit the conversation.

Before you head out, let the individual know that the conversation is important to you and you need to take a few moments before you come up with an answer. If it makes you feel more comfortable. Schedule a time slot for the conversation so it gives you a timeframe to develop an answer.
 

Retreat to a comfortable, quiet place that allows you to think about the situation. I would highly suggest going to a quiet space or moving outdoors so you can breathe for a moment and also get a good bit of fresh air. If possible, I would encourage business owners to meditate, as it can be easy to get caught up in the crisis happening at the business.

Meditation can decrease anxiety; it makes people happy. Meditation can take a hold of your emotions after you’ve entered a stressful situation and your adrenaline is pumping. When you get to a comfortable place, take a moment to really breathe. When you take those moments to breathe, it can help calm someone and make them feel centered again.
 

As a business owner, work to take care of your employees and the space they operate in. When you think about your business, it’s important to have a space that is safe, but also allows for a quiet place for employees to retreat to. It can be as simple as reevaluating what is needed for safety and what is needed to create a pleasurable work environment.

When your employees can take time for themselves and recollect their thoughts, you might see a better outcome with your business, further eliminating stress on your end.

I would really encourage meditation for your employees and yourself. If you don’t have the funds to bring someone in to teach meditation, it can be helpful to have pamphlets that discuss ways to focus on mental health and meditation. Another small thing you can do is focus on bringing healthier foods into your operation. If you’re in charge of filling the vending machine, try to offer healthier options that encourage positive energy and won’t slow employees down.

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