How Successful People Stay CalmMarius Pranskunas

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ion While searching the web I don’t limit myself with Google for

number of years. Their rankings (for the fear of all onlinemarketers) keep changing, search results change based onpersonal search history and in majority of times really goodcontent is hidden somewhere deep. One of the tools I use tofilter noise is buzzsumo.com and while playing around withdifferent keywords I came across most shared (2.8 milliontimes) LinkedIn article “How successful people stay calm” andcould not resist to shorten the message and share the briliantpeace of advice with my network. It also was interesting totest, was it content, concept or personal brand Dr. Bradberrythat made such an impressive numbers. Even tho frameworkand the ideas are learned from this source, rest is my personalopinion outlined here for your education and entertainment.So how can you also be coping with stress like a successfulperson?

One of tips for successful stress management would being grateful forsomething every single day. YouTubers SoulPancake carried outresearch which proved, that showing gratitude increased happinesslevels for sample group. So in addition appreciating someone else’sachievements, we can start appreciating what we have (me included)

even it is something small. There is always be someone richer, andalways be someone poorer. Reminding yourself about somethingpositive would create positive state of mind and would reduce levelsof cortisol (stress hormone), seems like a winner to me.

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In most cases stress is caused by negative thoughts about apast, or due the skewed interpretation of future. I remembertalking to a friend about choices he made in his life and how itdid affected his present. Yet because of those choices hebecame that person he is with all the personal growth heaccomplished. Future concerns are common, and I am guiltyfor over-thinking it too. Nobody knows the future and there isabsolutely no valid reason to plan about it in negative way. Itcan even lead you to that negative outcome as yousubconsciously make decisions leading to that outcome.Thinking “what if” will distract you from making correctdecisions when its needed. Personally if I have to plan “escaperoute”, I ask myself “How I will” instead, it not only gives mesense of control but also provides solid creative solution to aproblem.

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Now every single time someone has a negative thought or afeeling stress hormone is released. More often it happensmore easier it is to the body to come back to similar state.Neurons form links, which becomes clusters creating moreclusters and making operation more efficient. Now it works inthe opposite direction too. More positive emotions you have,more likely you are to stay in that state. There are number ofways to maintain positivity, I like to eat very good food, fixsomething, help someone. If you are really stuck exercise canbe reliable quick fix. Did you ever noticed that after running orother exercise, day becomes a little bit better? Even if youexperience stress, is not the end of the world, it is your bodiesnatural reaction to stimulus and you can also see it in positivelight. Your body prepares you for challenge.

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Because of current available technology it is extremely difficult tostay disconnected from work. Constant emails bombard yourinbox, phone is burning with text notifications, calls, missed calls,voice-mails. Now when at work or during weekdays it isimpossible to switch off your phone. But simple off day on theweekend can positively change your your stress levels. Often Ifeel a need to get out of the city and even go camping. Wakingup far away from the city with basic necessities, like cooker tohave a morning espresso (I still need my luxuries) gives me totalreset from all of the thing that worries me. When I come back, I ambetter myself. Also making fire and seeing instant results on myeffort, watching flames play in the dark always put a big smile onmy face.

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Actually this is a hard one, I love coffee, and always try tosqueeze cup or two every morning, but drinking too much willincrease level of adrenaline, fight or flight hormone and mayaffect your rational thinking. It is ok to make fast decisionswhen it is actually needed, but in a common officeenvironment it is not desirable. More subtle long term orientedapproach to problems is required. And after every high comesmassive low, known as, “caffeine crash”. So better leave coffeefor allnighters.

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Now here I have mixed feelings, from one side it is good tohave a good sleep, but also it is good to have a habit to wakeup early, currently my early is 7 am. There is even a “secret” 5am club of people in all positions in life who stand by theinsanely early morning. Explanation, they feel so much betterbeing awake before anyone else. However sleep is necessaryto regain strength for next day, hours by my opinion does notmatter that much, as long as sleep is good, invest in blackoutcurtains, make sure there is no light source as it can inhibitsleep. I personally experiment with different ambient sounds,such as ocean, night forest, or rain.

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While completing my last year in University is often wassurprised how calmer I was in comparison to some of myclassmates. I actually had a secret hack. Whenever my examstress was taking too much of my thoughts, I was rushing tomy car and listen to visual imagining CD. In the beginningcalm deep voice was asking to breathe deeply. Concentrateon breathing. Rhythmically, slowly, as every breath I took, wasbringing new energy into my body and, every exhale wasreleasing all the problems I had. Focusing on somethingsimple like breathing allowed me to forget about my worryand this 20 minute quick fix got me 2nd class honor just bybeing more tuned in.

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Every single person on this earth needs someone to talk to.Successful or not human being needs someone to share theirtrouble with. I would love to become better listener, as it may bevery likely for me to continue my career as a consultant. Listeningto clients worries and concerns would make my clients feel better.This way making me a better at my job. Sometimes it is difficult totalk about your worries with my partner. Yet I have network offriends in same position or those who got similar problems in apast. It is beneficial to provide support for others, hormonereleased then supporting other acts as remedy for stress causeddamage to oneself. Oxytocin is a hormone which fine tunes yourbrains social instincts. It primes you to do things that strengthensclose relationships, it makes you seek support and tell someone.Either way you help or being helped your body releases itcounteracting negative effects. But If nothing else is available onthe spot, I would self support myself by writing it all down or toquote Jim Rohn – “Best place to solve problem is on paper”.

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