UpTrajectory Review
Fast Company highlights the challenges small business owners face during particularly hectic periods, emphasizing the balance between optimal arousal and performance. The piece references the Yerkes-Dodson law, which illustrates that while a certain level of stress can enhance productivity, too much can lead to panic and decreased focus. The article offers practical strategies to manage stress, including mindfulness and breathing exercises, to help regain control during overwhelming times.
For small business operators, understanding the Yerkes-Dodson curve is crucial. As the article suggests, recognizing when stress levels become counterproductive can help you implement strategies to maintain focus and productivity. This week, consider integrating mindfulness practices into your routine, especially on days filled with back-to-back meetings and tight deadlines. While the advice is solid, it's essential to personalize these techniques to fit your unique stress triggers and work style.
“When you find yourself over-aroused and slipping over the edge of the Yerkes-Dodson curve, it is time to calm down.” — Fast Company
Takeaway: Implement mindfulness techniques to manage stress and maintain productivity during hectic days.
Excerpt from the original — Fast Company
You are bound to have one of those crazy days (or weeks or months) where your calendar is jammed with meetings, there are looming deadlines, and an emergency has cropped up that absolutely needs to be dealt with right away. Having a few things that hit at the same time can actually be good for you, but eventually, it is going to cause you problems.
In particular, the researchers Yerkes and Dodson published a paper in 1908 (you read that right—over 110 years ago) talking about the optimal level of psychological energy called arousal. They suggested that when people have low levels of energy, they don’t get much done. That shouldn’t be surprising. As your arousal goes up, your performance goes up as well. Again, not so surprising. At some point, though, you reach an optimal level of energy, and beyond that, your performance starts to go down again. You panic, or at least have trouble …