Page 30 - MIND YOUR ASSET

ANTHONY KAIRUZ

 Turn stress into an asset

Stress is unavoidable, but it doesn’t have to be damaging. When managed correctly, strain can
positively impact productivity and performance.

Here are three things you can do to make stress work for you:

1. Recognize worry for what it is. Stress is a feeling of emotional or physical tension. When you
start to worry, realize it’s an indication that you care about something, not a cause for panic.

2. Focus on what you can control.

3. Create a supportive network. Knowing you have somebody to turn to can help a lot. Build
relationships so that you have people to rely on in times of stress.

 Stop multi-tasking

A study at the University of London showed that subjects who multitasked while performing
cognitive tasks, experienced significant IQ drops. In fact, the IQ drops were similar to what you see
in individuals who skip a night of sleep or who smoke marijuana. Now that's a terrifying thought!

Multitasking has also been found to increase production of cortisol, the stress hormone. Having
our brain constantly shift ,gears, pumps up stress and tires us out, leaving us feeling mentally
exhausted (even when the work day has barely begun).

Our inboxes are the biggest instigators of multitasking-mayhem! Some studies have shown that
even the opportunity to multitask, such as knowledge of an unread email in your inbox, can
reduce your effective IQ by 10 points! The constant thrill of a new bolded email in our inbox keeps
us ever-distracted.

A McKinsey Global Institute Study found that employees spend 28% of their work-week checking
emails. Imagine how much that cuts into productivity!

Email is problematic and texting is even worse as it demands immediate response.

Protect yourself from multitasking by establishing time-slots for emails.

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