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Most of the time, stress is a part of work that may be annoying, but isnt debilitating. As I have written about many times, stress is just the emotion you experience when you are focused on avoiding some threat or calamity in your environment. Ideally the stress you experience gives you a boost of energy to tackle difficult problems at work. Sometimes, though, stress causes more problems than it solves. This is particularly true under two conditions: when it makes it difficult for you to make any progress on issues at work, and when it bleeds through into your personal life and sabotages your time away from the office so you cant relax. In those cases, you need to better manage your work stress. What can you do to keep work stress from overrunning your life? Find your energy sweet spot At work, stress gets in the way when you get over-energized. There is a long history of evidence suggesting that there is an optimal level of energy for getting work done: too little, and you have no motivation to work on key tasks; too much, and your energy level is paralyzing. You may pace the room, or flip between tasks, but you cant concentrate. In between is a sweet spot in which you have enough energy to focus on a critical task and stay engaged. You want to find that zone in which you work effectively. Get a sense for what it feels like. When your stress level builds to the point that you are no longer working at your peak, use strategies to dissipate some of that arousal. Take a walk. Do some deep breathing. Talk with a colleague. Only return to your work when you feel like youre able to focus and make progress. Otherwise, your lack of progress is likely to create additional stress and ramp your energy level back up. Build a barrier When that work stress also affects your home life, then you may need to create a moat that the stress cant cross. Find some kind of activity you can do during or after your commute home from work (even if that commute involves simply shutting your computer, because you work from home). If you can delay the start of your family obligations, then consider doing some exercise, reading a book for pleasure, or engaging in another hobby like playing an instrument, knitting, or crafting. Do something active rather than passive. When you watch TV, for example, you may reduce your energy level, but you dont change your thinking pattern. If you really have to dive into your home responsibilities, then see if you can create a change in thinking while also addressing the needs of your family. Turn chores into a game. Pair the work you have to do with great music or an audio book. Find something you look forward to that will shift your mindset. Work on your sleep routine Also, dont neglect your sleep routine. If you have a lot of work stress and then your home life is busy, you may feel like you should stay awake in order to have some time doing things you enjoy. Resist that temptation. Sleep is a critical component of your mental and physical health. If work stress starts to interfere with your ability to sleep, work on developing a sleep routine. Disconnect from devices at least 30 minutes before you want to sleep. Create a more consistent routine around your sleep so that your body develops habits to want to fall asleep. Consider listening to sleep meditations so that you can relax and sleep. Your consistent sleep routine will help with your focus and resilience, which will benefit you both at work and at home.
Category:
E-Commerce
Last week, some of the worlds most notable brands, creatives, and executives gathered at Cannes Lions to explore the issues shaping the future of advertising and communicationsfrom the rise of AI to the growing importance of ESG to the topic currently under fire: diversity, equity, and inclusion. Since January, many across the industry have noted a shift. The momentum behind DEIonce front and centerhas been dimmed by growing backlash, driven largely by U.S. political pressure and a wave of corporate rollbacks. These critics are trying to distract, deflect, and delay progress. But they wont win. Despite the backlash, it wasnt hard to find leaders at the festival choosing courage over caution. Leaders like Adrianne C. Smith, founder of the Cannes Can: Diversity Collective (CC:DC) and chief inclusion and impact officer at FleishmanHillard, who opened the fifth Inkwell Beach installation with a clear message: Dont talk about it. Be about it. This call to action resonated with me and many others, but it raises an important question: were brands and their leaders in attendance truly listening? As we head into the second half of 2025, one thing is clear: the metric brands must begin to track, integrate, and prioritize is Return on Inclusion. Its the ROI that will define the future of the creative industriesand its one brands can no longer afford to ignore. Heres why. Brands Should Hit the DEI Reset ButtonAs Long as Its Done with Intention Amid the glitter and glamour, spaces like Inkwell Beach stand outnot as performative checkboxes, but as intentional, purpose-driven platforms for real progress. One of the most rewarding aspects of Cannes Lions is hearing diverse perspectives that truly move our industries forward. One of these leaders is Frank Starling, VP and Chief DEI Officer for Cannes Lions. We sat down to discuss whats next for DEI, what brands should be thinking about now, and where they can focus to make a meaningful impact. As Frank pointed out, as a world, we are living in a paradox: hyperconnected, yet more fragmented than ever. This is why brands must prioritize both relevance and resonance and be ready to answer two crucial questions: How do we reset with intention? And what does that look like inside our organization? In 2025, the workplace is more generationally diverse than ever. According to SHRM, as many as five generationstraditionalists, baby boomers, Gen X, millennials, and Gen Zcan now be found at the same company, sometimes at the same table. These employees need to feel safepsychologically and physically. And its up to brands to make more, not less, room for the unique perspectives, values, and lived experiences they bring. According to Frank, in todays fast-changing world, we must build and foster climates that spark creativity and innovation. Every organizations DEI reset will look differentbut it must be rooted in intention. Creativity Drives Disruption. And You Cant Spell Creativity without E&I. When I launched The Sway Effect in 2019, I knew two things were nonnegotiable: diversity, equity, and inclusion had to be central to everything that we do, and we would only collaborate with brands that believed inclusivity leads to the best work. Research continues to prove this: according to Harvard Business Review, inclusive organizations are 73% more likely to reap innovation income 70% more likely to capture new markets up to 50% more likely to make better decisions, and up to 36% more likely to have above-average profitability. The bottom line is, inclusivity separates the leaders from the followersand shows both employees and customers that you are showing up for the communities that you represent and serve. Despite the clear value of this approach, fearnot convictionis driving too much of todays creative work. And its not surprising, with critics like Elon Musk declaring that DEI must die and the U.S. government labeling some DEI efforts as egregious and discriminatory. But apprehension cannot outweigh the responsibility to build safe, inclusive workplacesand create lasting impact across our industries. After all, you cant spell creativity without E&IEquity and Inclusion. When I shared my 2025 (and beyond) mission statement with Frank, heres how he expanded on the vision: Ensure that inclusive leadership is at the center of your organization.That means collaborating across differences, challenging bias, and leading with courage and cultural intelligence. Embed inclusion to spark innovation and creativity. Make space for everyone to speak up, challenge ideas, and be themselves. That sense of belonging fuels innovation. Focus on impact over volume. Pull back, assess what will truly move the needle, and invest your time, budget, and resources there. The Future Belongs to Those Who Show Upand Stay the Course As the dust settles from a thought-provoking week on the Croisette, one thing is clear: there will always be a place for purpose. My message to brands post-Cannes is thismeasure DEI success not just by return on investment, but by Return on Inclusion. Thats what will shape the future of creativity, culture, and DEI. Lead the conversations. Build the culture. Drive the change. Those are the brandsand the leadersthat will always have a seat at my table.
Category:
E-Commerce
Who says the world needs another podcast? We do. By Design is your new home for design news and criticism, plus in-depth interviews with some of the biggest names in the space. Its the first podcast from Fast Companys design desk and is hosted by senior editor Liz Stinson and global design editor Mark Wilson. Our first guest is Michael Bierut, the man behind some of the most iconic design work in recent history including Mastercard, Slack, Saks Fifth Avenue, and countless others. Now, as Bierut steps into (semi) retirement, he sat down with Liz and Mark for a thoughtful reflection on his legendary career and why both humans and technology will need to work together for real design innovation. (And yes, they do revisit the infamous H logo he designed for Hillary Clintons 2016 presidential campaign.) Liz and Mark also give their analysis on the latest in design news: Is Apples Liquid Glass any good? Can Sam Altman and Jony Ive make a useful piece of AI hardware? Plus, they rank the best and worst designs of the month. Listen to the first episode now on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get podcasts.
Category:
E-Commerce
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