I’m so stressed right now, I can’t even think clearly.
That’s how a friend answered me recently when I asked him what I thought was a simple question.
I care about most issues, but not that much. I start with “What’s the worst that could happen?” If the answer is tolerable, then I see no need to overly stress about it.
I prefer to differentiate thinking on how to deal with an issue from simply worrying about it. Merely worrying accomplishes nothing.
But as I drove away, my friend’s response weighed on me.
How can anyone perform at their best, in any situation, if they can’t think clearly? That’s when we all make mistakes that we end up regretting.
Motivated to research the issue, I came across a recent Forbes magazine article by executive coach Kara Dennison titled, “Why learning to manage stress early on is critical for your career.”
Dennison pointed out that physical symptoms often appear first, including headaches, muscle tension, disrupted sleep patterns or constant fatigue. Mental indicators include difficulty concentrating, irritability, forgetfulness or feeling constantly on edge.
These signs typically intensify gradually, making them easy to dismiss initially.
Stress rarely comes from a single cause. More often, it results from an accumulation of smaller pressures that compound over time.
Common workplace stressors include unrealistic deadlines, unclear expectations, difficult relationships, heavy workloads, or lack of control over decision-making.
If this resonates with you, it’s time to stop and do something about it. Anything that can literally ruin our careers, relationships and health needs our immediate attention.
How individuals handle it
Stress is an inevitable part of any professional’s life, but how individuals handle it early in their careers significantly impacts both their health and long-term success.
Those who advance most successfully aren’t the ones who experience the least stress, but those who have developed the skills to manage it effectively when pressure mounts.
Early in our careers is when we’re most likely to feel this chronic stress and additional pressure. Comparing ourselves to others and dealing with the pressure to succeed seem to be the most prevalent causes of stress.
Left unmanaged, persistent stress leads to sleep disruption, weakened immune function, anxiety, and long-term health complications that can derail both career progress and personal well-being.
By the time we reach age 50, the work patterns that we established in young adulthood begin to impact on our overall health.
Those who worked volatile schedules, including evening shifts, nighttime hours, or irregular patterns, tend to experience considerably worse health outcomes as the years go by.
Professionals who learn stress management techniques early in their careers experience better long-term health outcomes, stronger decision-making abilities, and more sustainable career growth.
Successful stress management depends on taking charge of your thoughts, emotions, schedule, environment, and how you deal with challenges.
This level of stress management can be done by developing a balanced approach that allows you to perform under pressure while maintaining your physical and mental health.
Breathing exercises and mindfulness
Some professionals find relief through breathing exercises and mindfulness, while others benefit from physical activity or structured planning.
The key is finding what works for you and then consistently applying those techniques. Don’t wait until burnout becomes unavoidable.
Those professionals who find healthy ways to combat stress have fewer health problems and sustain higher performance levels throughout their careers.
They also demonstrate greater emotional resilience and recover more quickly from workplace setbacks maintain emotional balance in challenging situations.
When you’re able to manage stress levels, you’re also able to respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively, and stay present during important conversations, even under pressure.
With early stress management, you can develop emotional discipline and self-awareness. You learn to recognize internal stress signals and regulate your responses before they escalate.
This emotional intelligence translates into better communication, better judgment, and stronger conflict resolution skills – all criteria for leadership roles.
Be aware of stress in your career and maybe at home. Deal with it early. Life’s too short already, and there’s no reason to be miserable.
Blair is co-founder of Manpower Staffing and can be reached at [email protected].
