Ever wondered how top professionals maintain their composure and drive in the face of stress? In this article, we feature insights from a physiotherapist and an executive director. Our experts first dive into the practice of mindful movement and conclude with the technique of using thought directing, among a total of eleven powerful strategies shared. Discover how these methods can help you stay grounded and connected to your life’s purpose.

  • Practice Mindful Movement
  • Use Mindful Breathing
  • Reflect on Daily Impact
  • Have Weekly Vision Alignment
  • Set Aside Quiet Reflection
  • Prioritize Mindfulness Meditation
  • Journal to Define Purpose
  • Try Progressive Muscle Relaxation
  • Maintain a Positive Mindset
  • Set Clear Priorities
  • Use Thought Directing

Practice Mindful Movement

One of the most effective techniques I use for stress management and to reconnect with my core values is regular mindful movement, whether through Pilates, yoga, or simply taking time for focused mobility exercises. I’ve spent over 30 years helping people restore their physical health, and for me, the act of mindful movement is not just about staying active, it is a reminder of why I entered this field in the first place. Physiotherapy is about improving people’s lives through movement, so incorporating this practice into my own life helps me stay aligned with my purpose.

During these sessions, I tune into my body’s responses, focus on my breath, and allow myself to let go of distractions. This approach has allowed me to manage the demands of running the practice while maintaining the clarity and motivation to support my team and clients. The practice reminds me that health isn’t just physical but deeply interconnected with mental and emotional well-being, a belief that’s been central to my career and continues to drive our work at the studio.

A particularly impactful example was when I was navigating the decision to expand and bring in more multidisciplinary services. It was a significant high stakes move that came with a lot of stress and self-doubt. By grounding myself through mindful movement and reflecting on my purpose to create a holistic space for wellness, I found the clarity I needed to push forward with confidence.

My years of experience in physiotherapy had shown me firsthand how integrated care could transform patient outcomes, and this awareness gave me the motivation to make a bold choice. That decision has since allowed us to offer our clients a truly comprehensive health experience, from physiotherapy to Pilates, massage, and nutrition. Staying grounded in my values has not only helped me manage stress but also driven decisions that enhance the lives of the people we serve.

Peter HuntPeter Hunt
Director & Physiotherapist at the Alignment Studio, The Alignment Studio

Use Mindful Breathing

Being a therapist for over a decade, I’ve discovered that mindful breathing combined with value-based reflection during my daily commute helps me stay centered in my purpose of supporting adolescent mental health. Each morning, I take three deep breaths and visualize one specific patient’s progress, which reminds me why I chose this path and reinforces my commitment to mental healthcare.

Aja ChavezAja Chavez
Executive Director, Mission Prep Healthcare

Reflect on Daily Impact

I learned the power of a 10-minute morning reflection when managing our team through a particularly challenging market downturn last year—writing about how our actions aligned with our commitment to client transparency helped me stay focused. Every morning, I jot down three ways our work directly impacts our clients’ financial well-being, which keeps me grounded in our core mission of building trust and creating lasting financial security.

Jonathan GerberJonathan Gerber
President, RVW Wealth

Have Weekly Vision Alignment

A practice I’ve adopted is having a weekly vision alignment session with myself. It sounds formal, but it’s really just about setting aside time each week to reflect on my work’s broader impact and align it with my personal values. I start by listing one or two big-picture questions—things like, “How did I make a positive impact this week?” or “How did I align with Everyday Delta’s mission?” These questions give me a chance to slow down, take stock, and appreciate the purpose behind my daily tasks.

It’s incredibly grounding because, in answering these questions, I get to see how my role is more than just marketing products. It’s about connecting people with solutions that enhance their lives. This practice keeps me motivated by reminding me that my work contributes to a mission I genuinely believe in. Plus, it gives me a sense of clarity and purpose, helping me approach each new week with fresh energy and focus.

Jayant SuranaJayant Surana
Marketing Manager, Everyday Delta

Set Aside Quiet Reflection

One stress management technique I rely on is setting aside quiet time each day for reflection. I use this time to reconnect with the purpose behind our work—helping people feel confident and empowered through improved hair health. Reflecting on patient stories and our positive impact reminds me why we’re in this business.

This practice keeps me grounded, especially during busy or challenging periods. It’s easy to get caught up in daily pressures, but taking a few minutes to focus on our core values and goals restores my motivation. This approach helps me prioritize decisions that align with our mission, ensuring we stay true to our commitment to quality care and patient well-being. Connecting to this purpose keeps me centered and fuels my drive to lead the clinic forward.

Dr. Michael MayDr. Michael May
Medical Director, Wimpole Clinic

Prioritize Mindfulness Meditation

I often find myself in high-pressure situations, so I prioritize mindfulness meditation as my go-to stress management technique. Taking just ten minutes a day to sit quietly and focus on my breath helps me reconnect with my values and purpose. It allows me to step back from the hustle and bustle of daily tasks and reflect on what truly matters to me, both personally and professionally.

This practice keeps me grounded by creating a sense of clarity amidst chaos. When I take the time to align my thoughts and actions with my core values, I feel more motivated to tackle my responsibilities with enthusiasm and focus.

Michael HaydenMichael Hayden
Accountant | Business Owner, MH Services

Journal to Define Purpose

Journaling is one of the most effective stress management techniques which I tend to apply. Journaling enables me to sort out what is going on in me and what I value besides helping me define my purpose.

To my weekly coaching I devote the time to find out what I am interested in, and what I need to work on. It’s useful to me because it enables me to clearly state my objectives and brings me back on track since it tells me the why when overwhelmed by the how.

Writing in the journal is used as an anchoring object that helps to let out stress and to find a way out. In this way, by expressing myself as often as possible, I am fully in line with myself and my goals, thus improving my well being together with my efficiency in leading others.

Rubens BassoRubens Basso
Chief Technology Officer, FieldRoutes

Try Progressive Muscle Relaxation

I will recommend using the progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) technique to manage stress and improve the quality of my sleep. It typically helps release stress and calms the mind. Following this step every day in my nighttime routine gives me time to reconnect with my core values and gain mental clarity.

After completing my nighttime routine, I lay down in bed and spend approximately 20 minutes of my time on this breathing technique to relax my mind and prepare myself for a restful sleep. I take deep breaths, slowly tensing and releasing each muscle group, beginning with my toes all the way up to my head. We need to hold each of the tensed muscles for some seconds and then let go, focusing on the relaxed feeling when releasing a breath.

This technique is great for stress relief and will help you have a satisfying sleep. The next day, you can wake up refreshed, grounded and motivated to begin your day with renewed energy.

Shebna N OsanmohShebna N Osanmoh
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, Savantcare

Maintain a Positive Mindset

Keeping a positive mindset is super important for me when managing stress. I really believe that everything happens for a reason, which helps me stay grounded and motivated, even when times get tough. This way of thinking not only boosts my personal growth but also plays a big role in our professional success. By focusing on the good stuff, I can better handle the ups and downs of running a business, making sure every experience adds to our journey.

Diane HowardDiane Howard
Rn and Founder, Esthetic Finesse

Set Clear Priorities

I mainly manage stress from the following aspects. I think setting clear priorities is the most important. By identifying which tasks are essential and prioritizing them, I can avoid wasting too much time and energy on unnecessary stuff. This approach helps reduce anxiety and allows me to focus on the most critical tasks.

Besides, timely rest can help me relieve stress. Long hours of work can lead to fatigue and a low mood, so I take regular breaks during work and exercise on weekends to restore energy. Especially during high-intensity work periods, taking a few minutes off can help clarify thoughts and improve overall productivity.

Finally, I have always maintained a positive self-dialogue. When faced with pressure, many people are easy to self-doubt. Through positive self-dialogue, I can enhance my confidence. At the same time, I set short-term goals and celebrate every small success, which makes me more assertive to actively respond to challenges.

Eve BaiEve Bai
International Partnerships and Operations Manager, StudyX.AI

Use Thought Directing

My go-to technique is what’s called thought directing whereby you basically and systematically work through the alphabet within specific categories, so whether it’s naming marketing metrics or content types, I find this very methodical approach quiets my mental chatter and just refocuses my mind on strategic thinking…for my job…for my life.

Sandy MeierSandy Meier
Head of Marketing, Contentellect