How to Reduce Stress

Burnout doesn’t always look dramatic. Sometimes it’s just slowly losing clarity.

You’re not broken—you’re just overloaded.

From endless inboxes to context-switching all day,
most leaders are forced to carry more without ever
being taught how to carry better.

Here are 5 stress signals—and the energy-protecting systems that help:

1. 📥 Inbox Avalanche?
Try: Inbox Zero
➤ Delete what doesn’t matter
➤ Delegate what you shouldn’t own
➤ Triage quick tasks, defer the rest

A clear inbox = a lighter mind.

2. ⏱ Drowning in Deadlines?
Try: Parkinson’s Law
➤ Give yourself less time
➤ Force clarity by racing the clock

Effort expands to fill time—cut it on purpose.

3. 🔀 Constantly switching gears?
Try: Single-tasking
➤ Focus fully
➤ Finish before jumping

Multitasking drains energy invisibly. Focus protects it.

4. 🤝 Team tension in the air?
Try: Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Styles
➤ Identify your default mode (avoid, compete, etc.)
➤ Shift toward collaboration

High-performing teams talk about what’s hard.

5. 🔥 Burners all on high?
Try: The Four Burners Theory
➤ You have 4: Work, Health, Family, Friends
➤ You can’t max them all—choose consciously

Energy is finite. Prioritize what matters most.

The Reframe:
Leadership isn’t about eliminating pressure.
It’s about protecting the power source: you.