Today is National Employee Benefits Day – and this year’s theme strikes a “resilient” note.
Not familiar with the commemoration? Well, it’s sponsored by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans – and it’s been designated as a day to honor the important work that trustees, administrators, corporate benefits practitioners and professional advisors do on behalf of North America’s workforce.
Yep, that’s you.
And, while it may have something to do with being on the eve of the nation’s largest retirement plan conference, this year the focus had a special relevance for me. It’s on resilience – the ability to adapt (well) to stress.
There are, of course, a lot of ways to deal with life’s inevitable potholes – and chasms. Whether it’s the markets, the latest curveball out of the nation’s capital, the looming tuition bill (or college debt payment), the ridiculous client expectation, or that deadline your boss just doesn’t seem to understand can’t be met until human cloning is a reality – let’s face it. We’re all stressed.
And we all know the toll that stress, whatever the source, takes on our health – physical and mental – and what that ultimately costs.
Life being what it (inevitably) is, the folks behind National Employee Benefits Day maintain that there are ways to build your resilience – and if some of the solutions seem a bit “trite” – as with sitting down to do that budget, executing a financial plan, or just sitting down with a trusted friend to talk things through – there’s something to be said for taking action, rather than just stewing about the situation.
Here’s some suggestions to build up your resilience:
Reframe ‘Challenges’
Reframing challenges can make a big difference in how you face a situation. Try to stay flexible to life’s inevitable surprises. Resilient people are not paralyzed by challenges but instead see them as a chance to grow. Even if sometimes you find yourself muttering the famous Friedrich Nietzsche quote, “that which does not kill us makes us stronger.”1
Take a Breath
Find an activity that you enjoy, and take time each day to fill your tank. The IFEBP folks say that if you’re not sure where to start, try mindful breathing, where you sit quietly and bring attention to the physical sensation of your breath. They even have a video to help: http://www.ifebp.org/aboutus/nebd/Pages/Mindful-Moment.aspx.
Break it Down
Okay, so your boss doesn’t seem to realize you are only human. But, when the list of “to do's” outnumbers the “to do-ers” or the hours “to do” it in, it can help to break things down to manageable pieces – the stuff that has to get done today, or this week, rather than that paralyzingly exhaustive list of tasks that will – eventually – have to be done. Break it down – before it breaks you down.
Make a List
Some people are natural list-makers. I’m not, at least not the kind that makes its way to paper (or, these days, a digital file). But even if you’re not (and perhaps especially if you are), a short list can not only help you focus on critical steps (see above), there’s something cleansing about crossing things off a list – even for us non-list makers. Just don’t get carried away – long lists can be counter-productive!
(Re) Connect With Those Who Care
The easiest thing to brush aside when you’re immersed in a crisis is those you care about. After all, why burden them with your problems? The reality is that those who care about you care – they’ll appreciate the opportunity to help, even if it’s only to lend a friendly ear. And you’ll be amazed at how much better you’ll feel.
Know That Your Actions Are in Your Control
Don’t forget that, ultimately, you are the one in the driver’s seat of your life and the one in control of your future.
You can’t control what life throws at you, after all – but you can control how you respond.
And when all else fails, remember that while “it’s only a job” (and never forget that), you’re making a difference. In the lives of those you support, and the lives of those around you.
Got some suggestions? Post them in the comments section – and/or respond to this week’s NAPA-Net Reader Poll at https://www.napa-net.org/news-info/daily-news/are-you-stressed.
Footnote
1. You may find it even more effective in the original German: “Was mich nicht umbringt macht mich starker.” Nobody will know what you’re saying, and it’s even more effective as a stress reliever.
