Managing Stress Well in Your Production Role

In the fast-paced world of production, where the stakes are high and expectations often exceed reality, stress can quickly become a constant companion. However, managing stress well isn't just about getting through each day and "surviving." It's about building a sustainable lifestyle at work and home and maintaining our mental and physical well-being.

As someone who has dealt with his fair share of stress and anxiety, I want to share some practical ways to handle stress effectively in production.

1. Prioritize Communication and Set Clear Expectations

Stress often escalates when there's a gap in communication or unclear expectations. Make it a habit to start each project or service by clarifying roles, responsibilities, and timelines. In situations where expectations shift (as they frequently do in production), keeping open communication with your team ensures everyone is on the same page, minimizing confusion and last-minute surprises.

2. Embrace the Power of Preparation

Preparation can reduce stress immensely. For instance, checklists can be your best friend. Write out each task that needs to be done before, during, and after the project or service. Breaking down tasks into manageable steps keeps you focused on what needs to be done and lessens the overwhelming feeling of trying to keep everything in your head. It also lets you approach each day with a clear vision, which eases stress when things get busy. Need a great app to track your tasks? I can not recommend TickTick enough. You can view more about them here.

3. Take Care of Your Physical Health

Nothing is more important than this. Long hours in production often mean we neglect essential self-care, but stress management begins with caring for our bodies. Make time to eat balanced meals, stay hydrated, and get enough sleep. Remember, working at anything less than 100% due to exhaustion or poor health makes it harder to handle stress effectively. What are some easy ways to achieve this? Try a water tracking app like Waterminder or schedule 15 minutes in your calendar to take a walk at work. There are so many tools to help you take easy steps to begin caring for your health today.

4. Prioritize Rest and Recovery

With the constant demands of production, burnout can creep in quickly if we don't build in time for rest. It's easy to justify skipping breaks to keep pushing through. "to finish sooner," but stepping away for even a few minutes can make a more significant difference than you realize. During downtime, find activities that recharge you. It could be listening to music, playing pickleball, or even yoga. Consistent, intentional rest helps your mind and body recover so you're ready for the next task.

5. Delegate and Trust Your Team

Delegating responsibilities is essential in high-stress environments like production. It can be tempting to take on everything yourself, especially when things feel chaotic. But trust your team to handle their roles and responsibilities. Delegation not only lightens your load but also empowers your team members and builds trust within the group. Letting go of the need for control in every detail allows you to focus on the bigger picture, giving you a sense of empowerment and control, and reducing the feeling of being overwhelmed.

6. Stay Solution-Oriented

In production, unexpected problems are inevitable. Equipment might fail, timelines might change, or directions may need clarification. We need to keep a solution-oriented mindset rather than focusing on the frustration or fear these issues bring. This means staying calm, assessing the problem, and thinking about the best possible response. Instead of getting caught up in the problem, we should build a habit of asking, "What's our next step?" This approach helps us manage stress and move forward efficiently, giving us confidence and reducing anxiety.

7. Lean on Your Support System

Whether it's coworkers, family, or friends, having people who understand your pressures can provide a safe place to decompress. Don't hesitate to share your experiences, vent your frustrations, and seek advice. Knowing you're not alone in facing these challenges can be incredibly grounding, and sometimes, talking things out helps you find solutions that weren't initially obvious. Who is this support system? I encourage you to get one if you don't have one; this is a vital next step.

8. Find Meaning and Purpose in Your Work

In high-stress moments, it's easy to lose sight of why we do what we do. Take time to remind yourself of the purpose behind your work—whether it's helping to bring creative visions to life, supporting an important event, or impacting your audience. Reconnecting with your purpose adds meaning to your efforts and puts challenges in perspective, giving you the resilience to keep going.

9. Practice Self-Compassion

We're often our harshest critics, especially in high-stakes fields like production. Remember that mistakes happen, and not everything will go as planned. It's crucial to practice self-compassion by acknowledging the effort you're putting in and the unique challenges production work brings. Rather than focusing on what went wrong, look at what you learned and how you grew from each experience. This practice can help you feel more at ease and less self-critical.

10. Cultivate Gratitude

A simple yet powerful tool for managing stress is practicing gratitude. Take a moment at the end of each day to reflect on what went well. Even on challenging days, finding small things to be thankful for shifts your mindset and keeps you grounded in positive thinking. Whether you write it in a journal, text it to a mentor, or share it with a spouse, we should always end our days by realizing that, in the grand scheme of things, the day went better than we make it out to be.

Take it from me: I have been feeling the effects of not managing my stress and self-care for years, and I hate admitting that. These practices are not a quick fix and won't eliminate stress, but starting to implement them will begin to transform us and our leadership. With time and intention, stress becomes a motivator rather than a barrier, allowing us to bring our best selves to each production and stay committed for the long haul.