How to Manage Stress When Things Are Out of Your Control

Hello everyone,

Today, I want to discuss a topic that affects every business owner, entrepreneur, and, quite frankly, anyone navigating the complexities of life: stress. Specifically, I want to focus on how to handle stress when things don't go your way and are completely out of your control. If you're someone continuously striving to juggle challenges that seem insurmountable, keep reading because this might be helpful for you.

The Stress of the Uncontrollable

Currently, I'm facing a couple of very stressful situations that are well beyond my control. If you've been keeping up with my vlog, you might recall hearing about some of these issues before. Here’s a deep dive into what's causing me stress:

Legal Quagmires: One of my team members made a significant mistake. We didn't respond to a claim against my company, even though we were 100% not liable for the debt. The issue spiralled out of control because this team member had personal issues and went off sick without a proper handover. As a result, we missed the deadline to submit our defence, and a judgement was served against us, imposing a debt of ten and a half grand that we absolutely don't owe. To avoid long-term damage to the company's creditworthiness, I had to make the hard choice to pay this debt.

Supplier Instability: One of our major property stock providers experienced a significant change in ownership. We have numerous contracts and legal commitments with them, so this change is causing a lot of instability and stress. With the lack of clear communication from their end, we're left in a limbo, unsure about the future of our business relationship.

How to Manage Stress

So, how do we cope with these uncontrollable, stress-inducing situations? Here are some steps that I've found helpful:

Understand the Facts: First and foremost, gather all the factual information at hand. Avoid making assumptions about what might happen; instead, focus on what you know for sure. This helps in mitigating anxiety that arises from "what-ifs" and baseless worries.

Plan Scenarios: Once you have the facts, create contingency plans for different outcomes. For example, if I don’t get a response by a certain deadline, I have a follow-up action ready. This systematic approach helps me feel more in control and lessens the anxiety brought on by uncertainty.

Keep a Balanced Perspective: An early mentor of mine, Mark Homer, once told me that even when something bad happens, it’s probably not as devastating as it seems. Conversely, when something good happens, it might not be as incredible as it appears. Keeping this balanced perspective helps in maintaining emotional stability and prevents exaggerating either highs or lows.

Dealing with Delays and Non-Responses

One of the most aggravating aspects of my current situation is the delay and lack of communication from the other party involved. Here’s a tip: regular touchpoints make a huge difference. Even a simple message like "I haven't got an answer yet but will update you tomorrow" can significantly reduce stress. So, try to establish these communication habits both for yourself and those who work with you.

Moving Forward

Ultimately, by focusing on facts, planning ahead, and maintaining a balanced outlook, we can mitigate a lot of the stress associated with uncontrollable situations. It's never easy, but these techniques have certainly helped me navigate my stressful scenarios more effectively.

As always, thank you for following my journey. If you believe in my mission of saving the lives of children through the ultimate ultra marathon of consecutive run vlogging, please do subscribe, share, like, and comment. The more people we reach, the more funds we raise, and the more lives we can save.

Stay positive, stay happy.

Best, Kevin