Taming Work Stress: A Manly Guide to Help You Conquer, Not Be Conquered.
This Journal entry will delve into the difficulties of working in a pressurised setting, offering practical advice on how men in their 20s, 30s, and 40s can stay stress-free and flourish in today's rigorous and fast-paced workplace.
Working in the financial markets in London can be a stressful experience for any man.
I know first hand.
By the ripe old age of 18 I was dealing in loans and deposits worth hundreds of millions of pounds at Glencore, a multinational commodity-trading and mining company.
It is a huge player in the industry, with operations across the world in areas such as coal, oil, metals, and agricultural products.
You are not there to play around, and if you fuck something up it could cost a huge amount of money.
The stakes are high.
The pressure is real.
We also partied hard.
Thinking back, that’s the first time I felt stress in some form.
As I progressed in my career I moved from finance, to trading, and then broking.
I dealt with markets such as:
Fuel Oil, UK Power, European Power, Carbon Emissions…
…and I ended my career setting up an LPG Shipping Derivatives broking desk.
By my mid-30s I’d worked with hundreds of brilliant people…
...and some complete arseholes - that's life.
Actually, I’m sure if you spoke to some of the people I worked with…
They might say I was a cocky or an arsehole as well.
As we say here at the Whole Man Academy:
“Someone's opinion of you is none of your business.”
Anyway… here's the thing…
As I worked through those roles I had moments of huge highs and lows.
Some days I made truck loads of money and felt like the King of the World.
Other times I lost a shit load of money and just wanted to go straight to the bar and get MC hammered.
For those guys unsure of that term… I mean shitfaced, smashed, drunk, plastered.
Or I would head straight to the gym to hammer out my frustrations on the weights.
See…the high pressure of the job…
Tight deadlines…
Rollercoaster of emotions…
And the fast-paced environment can take a toll on you mentally and physically.
London is a hub for the worlds fast-paced financial markets.
If guys aren't working long hours they are also entertaining clients.
Carving out time for dating or spending time with the kids.
Plus trying to get to the gym, seeing parents with failing health…
…and getting together with mates.
Juggling all of this comes with its own set of stresses and pressures.
So you could apply the advice I put below to pretty much any challenging environment that guys are dealing with.
After working with hundreds of men I’ve seen several common challenges:
The pressure to succeed and perform can be immense.
The stress of making the right decisions and meeting deadlines can be overwhelming.
Working long hours and sacrificing leisure time can be bloody damaging to your priceless physical and mental health.
Over time, you see a build up, and the pressure of the job can cause a range of problems, including anxiety, depression, and burnout.
Maybe even frustration, rage, anger.
Worst of all?
Complete lack of interest in the job.
I know I felt some of those at different points, maybe you have too?
Stress can take a heavy toll on you, so it’s essential to find helpful and healthy ways to manage it.
The good news is…
With the right strategies and attitude, stress can be something you can conquer, and not be conquered by.
We are big on the message that ‘the world needs strong men’…
…and stress isn’t something that has to take you down.
By taking the steps necessary to control your stress and handle it in a healthy way, you can be the strong man that’s needed by those who depend on you.
So, let's look at how professional men in their 20’s, 30s and 40s can deal with work related stress.
I cranked out some tips to help you:
SIX TIPS TO HELP
1) First, it’s important to recognize the signs of stress.
These can include feeling overwhelmed, having difficulty concentrating, feeling exhausted, having physical symptoms like headaches, or feeling overly anxious or irritable.
Once you’ve identified the signs of stress, you can start to take steps to reduce it.
2) One of the most important things when it comes to dealing with stress is to foster a strong mindset.
This is maybe one of the most powerful lessons you can take on board in life.
Your thoughts control your feelings, and if you’re able to take control of your thoughts, you can take control of your stress.
We talk about and teach this a lot here at the Whole Man Academy.
When dealing with a difficult situation, recognise what thoughts you are having and try to focus on the positive things that can come from it.
Remind yourself that they are just thoughts that come and go.
Just like the clouds in the sky.
Then remind yourself that you’re strong and capable, and you will be able to handle it.
You probably don’t realise HOW strong and capable you are.
3) Another helpful tip is to prioritize and delegate tasks.
A man must learn to say ‘NO’ to things.
Don't let yourself be overwhelmed by work stress and people’s demands.
Putting off tasks can lead to a guy feeling overwhelmed and stressed, so it’s important to make sure you’re staying on top of them.
Aim for amazing, not invincible. Prioritize your time and be realistic in what you can accomplish.
Cut out unnecessary tasks and focus on what needs to get done.
Be productive, not busy.
You can achieve great things without over-committing yourself.
Know your limits and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.
4) It’s also important to take care of your physical health.
Exercise can be a great outlet for stress, and it can also help to clear your mind.
Exercise can also help to improve your mood and give you a better outlook on life.
I’ve interviewed over 120 men for the podcast, and guess what one of their common go-to tools is for dealing with tough times?
Get your body moving, inside or ideally outside.
5) Next up is a seemingly obvious yet powerful one:
Eating healthy, getting enough sleep, and taking breaks throughout the day can also help to reduce stress (we’ll have blog posts to deal specifically with those very soon).
6) Finally, it’s important to remember to have fun.
Fun is one of our highest values here at the WMA.
Life can’t always be about work, so make sure to take time out of your day to do something fun and adventurous.
Whether it’s going for a run, playing sport, or just taking a break to watch your favorite TV show, having fun can help you to reduce stress and feel more relaxed.
Note: Watching or reading the news does not help, so stay away from it. Period.
Now that you know some tips on how to handle work related stress in a manly, helpful way, here are six easy to remember steps you can take to avoid stress at work:
1. Foster a strong mindset - Your thoughts have a big impact on your feelings.
2. Prioritise, delegate tasks, and say ‘No’ more.
3. Take care of your physical health.
4. Eat and sleep well.
5. Make time for fun.
6. Seek help - If you’re feeling overwhelmed or stressed, don’t hesitate to reach out for help.
We could delve deeper but that’s a start.
If you’re looking for additional help to de-stress, book a free 20-minute focus call with me.
I’ll quickly help you to create a personalised plan to help you manage your work related stress in a realistic and achievable way.
Together, we’ll develop a bold, functional, and fun approach to dealing with your challenges, so you can lead an epic life.
That’s all from me.
We’d love you to comment or share your thoughts on this blog post.
And remember, the world needs strong men.
Anthony
WMA Founder and Men’s Coach