1 min readYour Number One Stress Producer

by Guy Gage | March 17, 2025 | Leadership, Performance

Feeling out of control is the quickest way to accelerate your stress. This happens when you are unsure about what to do or having too much to do. Sounds like busy season to me.

When someone tells me they are stressed, I often ask what they are doing to manage it. You can imagine what I hear—crickets. People are stressed but won’t use any of the strategies and techniques they know that would help. Mostly, I hear, “I know I should…but I don’t.” The overall message is that they are too stressed to manage their stress. Really?

There are some proven actions you can take to get in control. We have written about them in previous Messages. By applying the ideas from these one-minute reads, you will get yourself in control and reduce your stress.

Crappy habits
Anticipating stress creates stress
Being overwhelmed

When you get in control of yourself and your work by using these practices, you will reduce your
overwhelm and enjoy your season and your profession so much more.

“Either you run the day or the day runs you.” ~ Jim Rohn

Read Related Blogs:

Closing the Year with Gratitude and Renewal

As the calendar winds down, professionals everywhere find themselves reflecting not only on goals achieved but also on the deeper meaning of this season. The end of the year is more than a checkpoint on a timeline - it’s a powerful reminder of resilience, connection,...

read more

Facing The Lions

Our inbred fear response is well-known: when confronted with a perceived danger, our mind and body prepare to fight, flee or freeze. A fairly recent discovery is an additional response called fawning - placating or appeasing to neutralize the threat. While we each...

read more

Strategy Isn’t a Luxury – It’s a Lifeline for CPA Firms

As year-end approaches, we often find ourselves in survival mode - juggling deadlines, client demands, and the whirlwind of the holiday season. It’s tempting to shelve strategic planning until “things calm down.” But here’s the truth: strategy isn’t a luxury reserved...

read more