How to Deal with Stress: Practical Approaches for Better Results

The ASPIRe Model Helps You Deal With Stress

In this week’s Asking For a Friend live, Karin Hurt interviews Eric Karpinski, author of Put Happiness to Work. We talk about practical approaches to help you deal with stress and maintain your productivity.

What is Stress?

Eric shares that stress is not inherently good or bad, it’s how we respond to it that matters.

In the figure below, he explains how the same stressful stimulus can provoke either a threat response or a challenge-response.

A threat response causes destructive emotional and biological side effects that can cause short and long-term problems. But, reframing your mindset to view the situation as a challenge, can actually be energizing and motivating and help you deal with stress more productively.

The Stress Response Continuum (learn more at 2:31)

Use the ASPIRe model to Deal with Stress

“You’re only stressed because you care.”

(Learn more at 5:52)

A– Acknowledge (Notice it, when it’s coming… “I’m feeling stressed)

S– Shift your mindset (Stress can be good for you, to give you the energy you need… “My heart beating faster is getting me ready to do something good.”)

P– Purpose (Find meaning in your stress- what is it that you care about that makes this so stressful).

I-Inventory your resources (Figure out who else can help or what other resources you can tap into)

Re-Reach out to others (You are not alone, even serving others can help)

You may also enjoy…

How Leaders Manage Their Emotions

Psychological Safety: Why People Don’t Speak Up at Work