How CEOs can stay mentally healthy through coronavirus crisis

The CEO job is stressful in a usual circumstance. Today your business runs nothing as usual. Some important parts might be missing. Maybe the supply chain of goods is broken. Maybe your warehouse is overstocked with inventory and you are losing hope that you can sell it. Maybe you are confronting all of the above plus more. Your business is in crisis and you are anxious to fix it. You feel responsible for your employees and their families. Then you worry about your own family especially your older parents. You are exhausted and simply cannot think straight.

1. Acknowledge the current situation

Stop! Remind yourself that this is not because you did not manage your business right or not because you are not prepared. The whole world is in crisis. 

Acknowledge the situation around you and make an agreement with yourself. You handled tough situations before. You will overcome this one.

2. Establish a daily routine working from home

Establish your new office settings. Choose your gadgets and continue adding changes until it feels right for you. You have to feel comfortable with your new office setting to be productive. It may look like a small detail, but it makes a big difference in your working efficiency.

3. Work less not more

Decrease working hours for yourself. You are at home so is your family. Allow more time for yourself, family, pets and your home environment. Don’t demand too much from yourself. You will work less but will produce more. 

4. Show compassion to your employees

Set up the work remote protocol for employees. Simplify their work. Reduce working hours and loosen up business rules. Be kind and understanding. Mention that you also need extra time to help your children with remote learning. Show that you are vulnerable like everybody else and you will receive stronger support from your employees in return.    

5. Interrupt your stressful situation at the very beginning

Be ready that every day will bring a new unexpected challenge. Understand that it will get worse before it gets better. Don’t get overstressed. Learn how to control your emotions at the beginning of each tense situation. When you feel you are getting stressed and is too much to handle take a break. Take a walk, listen to the music, do some task for your home, or do anything that takes your mind away from the stress. 

6. Add fitness to your high priority business tasks 

Managing business from home and dealing with critical business cycle adds an extra stress to your CEOs responsibilities. Now is more important than ever for you to stay calm and mentally fit. The best way to reduce stress is to be active every day. Physical activities will boost your mental productivity, creativity, and optimism which are so important to all leaders. Add workout to your calendar as a high priority business task.

7. Get a good night sleep

Sleep is the most important task from all. If you had a bad night of sleep, you can’t function well the next day. It is tricky to manage your sleep. You have so much on your mind that will keep you awake. Here is what you can do. 

• Eat balanced and healthy food. Have the last meal at least two hours before going to bed. 

• Make the plan for the following day. You may need to change it in the morning, but before you are going to sleep you have a plan. You are in control.

When you are calm and confident you will project safety and security to your employees. You will manage your business with confidence and overcome problems one at a time.