Leading in Uncertain Times: Start Out Right

When uncertainty hits, often the first things to go are the basics that science tells us we need to have any chance of coping well: sleep, physical activity, and warm, nourishing food.

I disregarded these basics for years because, as a single parent, I thought these were an unnecessary luxury. However, my career and life literally blossomed once I made it “a thing” to leverage my inherent biology to create a solid foundation of strength.

This didn’t make my problems go away. However, things seemed more manageable, and I was faster and had better ideas. And I discovered that much of the negativity I experienced in myself and others was an artificial construct created by a body that was deprived of the basics.

Science tells us we are more effective when we protect these basics. However, that can be easier said than done. Here are some tips & tricks.

Sleep

We need a certain number of hours of sleep to process stress hormones. Without this, the brain creates a false fight-or-flight scenario. Lack of sleep literally makes us turn molehills into mountains and limits our problem-solving capacity.

Tips & Tricks

I figured out the minimum amount of sleep I needed to have a helpful brain and prioritized that above everything else, including work, exercise, eating, cleaning, and emails. Now it is literally the last thing I give up when *stuff* hits the fan.
When a crisis happens and I can’t get enough sleep:

I schedule additional sleep ASAP
On low-sleep days, I continually remind myself that I am not in my right mind and tuck away the negatives I see for examination with more sleep.
I literally say to others, “I am so sorry, but I am a bit sleep deprived today… can I get back to you on that?”

Physical Activity

Movement makes the brain more elastic and better able to adapt to unexpected changes. And of course, the endorphins are helpful too!

Tips & Tricks:

A regular exercise routine, three times a week, is optimal.
No time to get to the gym?

Mix bursts of physical activity into your day: stand at your desk, walk briskly between meetings, run up stairs, run with the kiddos in the stroller on the way to daycare, do push-ups between meetings, etc.
Schedule walking meetings