Stress management is choice management

November 3, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Lori Milner

It’s not that one choice will define your whole day or suddenly generate anxiety and overwhelm. It’s that over time, a stacking of habitual choices starts to build up and inevitably leads to exhaustion, frustration, and even burnout. Mental Health Awareness Month reminds us to self-observe these seemingly innocent habits so we can begin to self-correct. Here are the five most common anxiety-fueling habits to let go of to create calmer days that you don’t want to escape from.

A Wiser Way With Stress

August 19, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Ashika Pillay

Most of us don't like the feeling of stress. We don't like the body sensations, the feeling of anxiety, and most importantly, we don't like a sense of being out of control. It seems like there could be a threat in our immediate environment, and we appraise that situation as something that could be dangerous to us, could take something away, or could have long-lasting consequences.

Put on your own oxygen mask first, before assisting others

August 19, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Lionesses of Africa Operations Department

…And so the Olympics closed for another four years. Checking for the last time the brilliant coverage from Rebecca Eliot and her tireless team at ProTouch™️ Africa here, shows as she says, “The Paris 2024 Olympics marked a historic moment for Africa, as athletes from across the continent delivered their best performance yet on the global stage. With a total of 39 medals, Africa’s talent and determination shone brightly, leaving a lasting legacy and filling the continent with immense pride. The time is now to start investing in the continent’s top talent ahead of #LA2028 and beyond!”

Burn Out

June 4, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Lionesses of Africa Operations Department

“People think my life has been tough, but I think it has been a wonderful journey. The older you get, the more you realize it’s not what happens, but how you deal with it.” – Tina Turner, RIP.

According to McKinsey (here): “Women leaders are switching jobs at the highest rates we’ve ever seen—and at higher rates than men in leadership…The reasons [include that] they face headwinds that signal it will be harder to advance.” All of this means they have to work harder and often longer hours than men if only to prove their commitment and worth. Indeed one young woman we know was told by her boss, that given she was working full days and deep into the nights, that she should make sure that she takes an hour off for supper before returning to work (nothing about solving this excess work issue). She has now left that company - who can blame her!

Anxiety – the latest Bully in the room

March 26, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Marjon Meyer

Are you currently experiencing a difficult moment and feeling under some pressure? Or are you experiencing such high levels of tension that you lash out at people, become erratic, and possibly even approaching a physically or mentally unhealthy condition? Then maybe you’re not alone on the precipice; perhaps anxiety is there with you. The precipice can be attractive, undesirable, or both.

Manage expectations to manage stress

August 26, 2022 Melanie Hawken

by Kathy Mann

In my book Harnessing Stress, I wrote about how expectations can be a source of stress. What we expect of others can lead to disappointment, what others expect from us can lead to stress and what we expect of ourselves can lead to a great deal of unhappiness if we don’t manage it.

Harnessing Stress by Kathy Mann

November 14, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Book Review

Stress expert Kathy Mann believes that stress is not something that can be dominated, suppressed or avoided, and in her book Harnessing Stress, she shows us how it’s possible to learn to live with it and harness it for good. Kathy says that by understanding the way our brains and bodies react in supporting us through stressful situations, we can learn to embrace stress and to use it to our advantage, in life and in business.

Tools for Preventing Stress

October 25, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Kathy Mann

I am fascinated by stress. One of the favourite parts of my work is interviewing people about how they engage with stress. In writing my second book, Harnessing Stress, I found that many people have developed habits to prevent stress. Through experience and in knowing themselves well, they have created rules to ensure they keep their stress levels low.

Self-Compassion: A Valuable Stress Management Tool

June 27, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Kathy Mann, Author & Speaker

Have you ever been told that you are too hard on yourself? When you receive feedback do you scroll past all the good stuff and focus on the negative or ‘constructive’ feedback? This is was my norm for most of my life, particularly early in my corporate career.

Learning to Love Stress

June 12, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Kathy Mann, Author & Speaker

Have you ever experienced the positive push of stress where you shine in a way you never thought possible? Researchers call this the challenge stress response, designed for optimum performance. It is responsible for the butterflies you feel in your stomach before a big presentation. It is responsible for the surge of energy you feel just before a big deadline. It enables you to get a lot done in a short time. The challenge response is a gift; a blessing and I personally love the feeling.

How does one survive the chaos of the Corona Virus?

March 24, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Paula Quinsee

With many people going into self-quarantine, being asked to work from home, schools and businesses shutting doors to do their bit to try and contain the impact of the Corona virus, it also brings with it a lot of change, anxiety and fear. If you missed our discussion on the Expresso Breakfast Show, you can view it here.

What’s at stake for you with Coronavirus?

March 24, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Kathy Mann, Author & Speaker

Stress researchers define stress to be what happens when something we care about is at stake. This definition allows us to understand our values and motives and to uncover what’s happening beneath the surface when we feel stress or anxiety.

Women entrepreneurs, stress and chocolate cravings

March 14, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Hlengiwe Moepe, founder of Marpemed

Have you ever wondered why, when we are stressed (and we know that the entrepreneurial journey can get stressful at times), some of us feel compelled to reach for the chocolate bars for comfort. Here are are a few possible reasons behind those chocolate cravings.

Reframing stress could extend your life

March 14, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Kathy Mann, Author & Speaker

Stress is pervasive. We are bombarded with deadlines, challenges at work and relationship conflicts. We are told by popular media that stress kills and indeed many people have developed chronic illnesses triggered by stress, including me.

How to Stay Focused at Work and in Business During Tough Times

August 26, 2018 Melanie Hawken

by Tatenda Rungisa, Human Resources Practitioner and co-founder of Twin Connect Solutions

Women have been known for being nurturers by nature, and it is only with the emancipation and empowerment that women have started taking on roles traditionally thought to be for men, and also undertaking entrepreneurial activities. However, it is wise to note that there is still a need for women to balance their nurturing roles in the family, as well as their roles in the workplace and in their businesses.

6 Tips for handling stress in the workplace

January 29, 2017 Melanie Hawken

In today’s world where high powered economic drive and corporate profiteering are the order of the day, the stressful pressures of even the most ordinary job or workplace are probably the biggest source of one’s daily stress. Demanding bosses, impatient clients, and every increasing deadline pressures put most people under enormous pressure. Today’s work stress and pressures are on the increase.

Is all Stress Negative?

January 8, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Stress can be likened to a coin which we all know has two sides – heads or tails, positive or negative, beneficial or detrimental. With discernment, and a level-headed approach, it is possible to determine how best to handle stress, including daily stressors. Contrary to popular belief, not all stress is negative, or even detrimental. To expand, I would like to share the following aspects for introspection of the stress in your life.

How to deal with festive season holiday stress

December 23, 2016 Melanie Hawken

December holidays and the festive season is supposed to be a joyous occasion and time for celebration, but in reality this has become an overrated commercial racket, complete with extravagance and over-indulgence. Typically prices sky-rocket and stocks are limited. People fret over what gifts to buy. Budgets are limited, yet people overspend and get into debt. Crowds, queues and traffic bottlenecks become the norm. Resorts are overcrowded. As people overindulge, diets fly out the window. Naturally emotions spiral uncontrollably. Frustrations, guilt, regret, remorse and stress levels soar.

10 Stress Busters for Women Entrepreneurs

August 22, 2014 Melanie Hawken

Let’s face it, life as an entrepreneur can often be stressful. From cash flow challenges to handling difficult clients, or managing impossibly long working hours and trying to find that elusive work-life balance, there are so many possible stress points that have to be dealt with each day. The key to success is to manage stress, rather than letting it get the better of you. So, here are 10 stress busters to help lighten the load....

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