Why We Refuse To Listen When We’re Stressed Out
“You just don’t get it!” “I’m not looking for your opinion…” Have you ever encountered these responses when you’re (just) trying to give helpful feedback? Defensiveness is an almost universal way in which we respond to stress. But here’s the tricky part—while we’re often quick to notice it in others, it’s even harder to notice […]
Holding Grudges Is Stressful: 3 Ways To Foster Forgiveness
We’ve all done things that hurt others, and we’ve all been wronged before. But while some painful experiences are over and done with, others stick with us for the long haul and cause a lot more stress than they need to. Perhaps it was a workplace disagreement where a colleague took credit for your work. […]
The Downsides of Doing Too Much: Why Multitasking Is Stressful
Imagine working calmly on your latest project, when the phone rings on your desk. “Bad news,” your teammate tells you down the line, “your client needs that work by tomorrow, I’m afraid–a whole week earlier than we had planned.” You’re stressed out and slightly panicked. But how do you react? Do you continue as you […]
Feeling Tense? 3 Ways To Feel Less Stressed
How are you feeling at the moment? Loose, limber, relaxed? Or maybe…a little neck pain? Sore shoulders, even some tightness in your face, arms, or legs? Many of us fail to realize when and how we’re tensing up in response to stress. We may think we’ve overdone it at the gym, or slept funny…until a colleague asks: “Why the frown?” Whether it’s nail-biting, […]
It’s Not a Conversation If You’re The Only One Talking
It takes two, at least, to make a conversation. Which we all know in theory. But we’ve all been there—the conversations that begin where you’re smiling politely, nodding, listening, while someone else talks. Maybe it’s a colleague or a boss, who’s understandably passionate about their vision for a project. After a while, you try politely […]