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Whether in sports, the management, or another job, the pressure of always having the best performance can create enormous stress affecting your cognitive abilities thus good stress management becomes your best competitive advantage. Simon Bides , the best gymnast of all time, as reported in USA Today  continues to open up about the negative stress effects causing her to withdraw from the Tokyo Olympic Games. Many people appreciate her open approach regarding her mental health struggles.   “Whenever you get in a high-stress situation you kind of freak out and don’t know how to handle all of those emotions, especially at the Olympic Games.”   “I felt like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders.“                                               Image: Reuters Learning from Bides what can you do in a stressful situation?   Know when to take...

Studying is stressful. Academic careers require a high level of dedication and work, that later potentially reflect in higher salary and a broader choice of jobs. Good grades are decisive, surely, but what really grabs the employers’ attention nowadays is having a semester abroad in your CV. Erasmus can be a lifechanging experience for students, but can also increase your level of stress even more. In 2021, around 75% of abroad students reported higher stress than at their home university. It takes lots of courage to jump into the unknown and live in a foreign country, leaving everything familiar behind. Don’t worry, you are not alone! The key to enjoying your time abroad is to be brave and curious. Get out of your comfort zone and try what appears new and strange to you, and you will eventually discover that these things make the greatest memories. Learning a new language can be difficult, but the first proper conversation will be the highest reward. To conclude, there is just one thi...

Before Covid, I had my life sorted out. But then the pandemic hit and I was sent home to work remotely, just like millions of other employees worldwide, and the situation changed entirely. Studies conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) showed that in the first year of the pandemic, the part of employees being affected by depression and anxiety rose by a massive 25%. Social isolation and financial worries were among the main causes   (cf. WHO Scientific Brief on March 2 nd , 2022), and I think most of us can confirm. Finally, I worked out some ways to deal with my increased stress that I would like to share with you in this blog. Staying productive is my Nr.1 recommendation:  When work is cancelled, you need to find something challenging that gives you the feeling of achieving something, like painting in my case. Secondly, I recommend you not to change your habits too much. Keeping a healthy sleep rhythm and a healthy diet increase the level of serotonin in your brain...

                              Stress has become a big part of our lives, especially when it comes to the work environment. It makes us unable to work efficiently, comfortably and even may lead to long term mental health issues. That is why it is important to take care of ourselves and be aware of how we can possibly help ourselves and reduce it.   There are some very easy and healthy techniques to reduce levels of stress.   You can start with identifying and tracking your stressors ( what causes your stress, what triggers you, what makes you feel uncomfortable). That will help you to avoid them, if possible, or to work on them, approaching those stressors from another perspective.  Set boundaries - do not be available for work purposes after working hours. Everyone needs time for themselves, time to relax and enjoy their time off without stressing over work problems...