Today’s Tip  from the HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW Stress may be unavoidable in the workplace. But you’ll be better able to handle it if you take steps to recover rather than continuing to power through. If you feel like you’re edging toward burnout, try these strategies. Detach psychologically from work. Dedicate time each day to a non-work-related activity. Learn which triggers prevent you from putting down work, and proactively avoid them. For example, if the presence of your phone prompts you to check work emails during off hours, turn it off or at least shut off notifications temporaril ..read more

We all face internal and external pressures to overwork. But to be fulfilled in your life and career, you need to push back against those forces.  First, understand that overwork is not necessary for professional success; if you find yourself triggered by others who believe it is, remind yourself of the truth with positive self-talk. Second, be clear on your values and follow them. Third, focus not on hustling to get ahead but on deeper goals and your craft. Fourth, find positive role models who have secured their achievement without overworking. And, finally, learn to ignore unreasonabl ..read more

Today’s Tip from the Harvard Business Review Performing Under Pressure No one is immune from freezing during high-pressure moments at work. Maybe you lose your voice or your ability to think straight when speaking with an important client, manager, or audience. That’s normal, but also preventable. To set yourself up for success in your next big moment at work, use visualization. Bring to mind your previous successes to remind yourself that you have what it takes. This will reduce your anxiety and boost your comfort level. Next, visualize the upcoming moment in as much detail as you can. W ..read more

I listen to the Daily Jay on Calm and today’s message was especially meaningful. “Break old patterns. Embrace new opportunities.” Jay asked how do you make decisions. It reminded me of one of the lessons of Positive Intelligence, how to love ourselves. Around last December Shirzad Chamine, author of the book Positive Intelligence and founder of the program that I use with my clients asked, “if you were to increase your love for yourself, what would you start or stop doing in order to be more loving?” When you put the filter of loving yourself more on decisions about exercise, eating, job searc ..read more

For any woman who finds herself troubled by anger in her relationships with family or work I recommend The Dance of Anger by Harriet Lerner, Ph.D.   “Anger is a signal and one worth listening to,” writes Dr. Harriet Lerner in her renowned classic that has transformed the lives of millions of readers. While anger deserves our attention and respect, women still learn to silence our anger, to deny it entirely, or vent it in a way that leaves us feeling helpless and powerless. In this engaging and eminently wise book, Dr. Lerner teaches both women and men to identify the true sources of anger ..read more

Today’s Tip From the Harvard Business Review Overcome Your Tendency to Overwork How can you develop habits that will help you create a good work-life balance and avoid burnout? You have to start by understanding why you overwork in the first place. Ask yourself: Are you just following the lead of your workaholic boss? Do you think that working long hours will help you get ahead? Are you trying to prove to others that you're a hard worker? Does being busy make you feel important? Next, make small changes to regain some control over your time. Try leaving work on time (or early!) two days a ..read more

Seek Out Moments of Wonder (FROM MONDAY’S HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW) More than ever we need ways to recharge our energy, calm our anxieties, and practice self-care. Seeking out moments that inspire awe or wonder (experiences that push you to think about ideas, issues, and people outside of yourself) can help you achieve these goals. This doesn’t necessarily require a trip to the Grand Canyon or Niagara Falls; noticing a starry night sky, an unexpected act of kindness, or the changing colors of the leaves can be just as awesome. One simple and powerful opportunity is to take an “awe walk” — a 20 ..read more

Calling All Boss Mamas! Are you amazing at your job but overwhelmed and tired and on the verge of burnout? Do you suffer from mom guilt and wish you could focus more on family?  Do you get the concept of self-care, but that’s something to be done later? Okay, now let’s imagine a very different reality. Imagine being clear on what matters to you, feeling connected to your family, prioritizing self-care. All while not sacrificing your career. Imagine how good it would feel to live your life aligned to what you want. Imagine feeling calm, balanced, and full of joy. If you’re thinking, “Yes ..read more

From Friday’s HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW A certain level of self-doubt can keep you humble and push you to work harder. But when self-doubt manifests as imposter syndrome, it can prevent you from growing. Here are a few ways to fight back against that nagging voice in your head: Acknowledge that it’s normal to second-guess yourself — especially when you’re new to an organization or if your team members look, behave, or have very different experiences than you. Focus your nervous energy on learning and adding value. When you identify an area of weakness, think of it as an opportunity to grow ..read more

As someone who enters the water from the side of the pool holding her nose and with a big splash, I am in awe of Olympic springboard divers, their physical skill and their mental ability to shake if off when they have to go through several rounds of elimination. It helps that If they make it through rounds of elimination, their prior scores don’t matter. I see them at the end of the springboard, breathing quietly and envisioning their successful dive. Those of us who interview, should also consider that our interviews with prior firms don’t matter. We can shake off any mistakes. It’s a new cle ..read more