Remember Lou’s 10/90 Rule to Manage Stress

Legendary college football coach Lou Holtz gave some great advice I draw to mind when feeling stressed: “Life is 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent how you respond to it.”

You don’t need to be a sports fan to benefit from Holtz’s mantra. We all experience difficult situations, and if we’re not careful, stress can cause physical, emotional and psychological strain that affects us at our home and work.

Stress is defined as the body’s response to change. Along the way, you may have already experienced some of the common symptoms: depression, heart disease, sleep loss, headaches and pain in the back, neck and jaw.

According to the American Heart Association, it’s important to identify ways you best handle stress, such as exercising, talking about your troubles or learning to accept the things you cannot change (the old Serenity Prayer).

You also should pay attention to potential stressful conditions at the office. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health outlines several stressful situations, including:

• Task Design: Heavy workload, infrequent breaks and long work hours can take their toll on even the most serene individual.
• Management Style: Departments lacking team decision-making opportunities, open communication and family-friendly policies may experience high turnover and employee burnout. 
• Work Roles: Employees struggling with conflicting or uncertain job expectations, extensive travel or an endless number of immediate reports may feel overwhelmed and frustrated. 

Be mindful of your own reaction to stressful situations and focus on identifying the disruptive factors affecting you and your team. Make time to discuss difficult projects or clients while helping others develop positive methods to manage their stress.

This is important. Studies show that stressful working conditions are associated with increased absenteeism, tardiness and employee turnover – all of which can have a negative effect on the bottom line. So remember Holtz’s advice, and focus on your personal and professional health.