The corporate life continues to get complicated, variety and has a more significant impact on us as individuals by introducing stress. A study by the American Psychological Association in 2017, work is about 61% source of stress. The higher than that is Money at 62%, which is related to work. Depending on the type of stress, it can have a severe impact on our well being in the short and long term.

I often see my colleagues and team members either expressing verbally or through their actions that they are stressed. The stress is often self-induced, or the environment, culture, or just work adds to it. Stressful situations in corporate life can be managed if you are passionate about the work or focus area. Passion brings in a positive mental attitude that balances the state of your body. However, passion, if not managed effectively, can lead to additional stress, which would deteriorate your further. Over the years, my work hours have increased, and individuals around me often ask how do I manage all this and still be happy with a contagious drive around me.

At the heart of driving a balance within my life, there are four critical elements that one should think of balancing daily and not weekly.

© Anees Merchant - Circle of Influence and Balance Circle to manage Stress

Passion: passion can be your work, either as an employee, freelancer, or entrepreneurship. One should enjoy what they are doing else it is futile to continue working in the stream. I strongly recommend to folks around me that whatever career path you choose to ensure that it is fun, you are motivated and are enjoying every day. Every type of work would have its qualms, but that shouldn't be the maximum part of the job else; it is not fun, and you would not be passionate about it. Motivation is an overrated word in corporate life, frankly speaking, I firmly believe no one can motivate anyone. Motivation comes from within and is self-driven.
Health: this has three dimensions that need to be balanced further and should be equally given importance. Food, Physical, and Mental health. Food and diet have gained significant influence over the last decade and would continue in the years to come. One's food habit greatly influences the mental and physical health state. Physical health is not about attaining a body athlete, but to be physically fit to ensure you are not tired and have adequate energy levels across the day for personal and professional chores. Mental health is all about keeping all state of emotions at bay and not suppressing any of them. For eg., it is ok to cry. It would help if you partook laughing or invoking happiness emotion daily.
Entertainment: Entertainment is the most underrated balance principle to manage stress. My recommendation is that there is no harm to indulging in entertainment (physical or virtual) based on your preference. In fact, it needs to be practiced daily to ensure you can do something which doesn't need your brain to work. Many times, entertainment allows me to relax and not think about anything related to work.
Social Circle: Your social circle really influences your stress, passion, and work. The first inner social circle is your immediate family, and spending quality time with them enhances your mental state. The second outer circle is our extended family and friends who are closer to you. Lastly, the outermost circle is the acquaintances and your broader friends. Frequent connections with your second and third circle of influences enable you to build relationships and enhances your social wellbeing.

The objective here is to create a balanced circle which incorporates all the four aspects in your daily life. Do practice and let me know how does this approach help you.

PS: I am not a medical practitioner, and all statements are based on my personal experience.