Working in equity compensation for almost 30 years, I’ve learned a thing or two about stress and ways to manage it. To all those who get that looming feeling of year- end and the numerous projects to ensure you are on track with deadlines and requirements, I see you! I hear you.

Over the course of my career, I’ve worked at large companies and small, for issuers and as a consultant, and for a lot of the time as an “army of one”. The breadth of knowledge required to work in equity is often overlooked and underappreciated, and it's not unusual to have a manager who doesn’t understand or fully appreciate the complexity or responsibility of the work. So it's up to each of us to establish a network both internally and externally: a safe place to vent, brainstorm ideas and commiserate/corroborate.

Even in the new hybrid and remote workforce model, there are ways to connect with colleagues in other departments. Seek out the employee groups your company offers and find your tribe, whether that’s a virtual book club, meditation sessions, cultural and ethnic activities, or just plain fun. Start a Slack or employee group if you don’t see your passion represented!

Connection is an important factor in staying healthy. We’re going to talk about other ways to mitigate stress, and how automation can be leveraged to help.

What is Stress?

Stress is complex, one might even say it's as complex as managing employee stock plans.

Our stress response is designed to protect us in an emergency by preparing the body to react quickly. The sympathetic nervous system releases cortisol and adrenaline, increasing our heart rate and blood pressure, and we go into fight or flight mode. Stress triggers this response in an intense effort to protect you. That sounds good, right? Your body is prepared for the worst!

Wrong.

When stress becomes chronic and you are riddled with stress hormones day after day, it puts your body, your mind and your health at risk. Consider the impacts in the graphic below; I’d bet that a couple of them come as a bit of a surprise.

Constant ​Burning of the Midnight Oil

A component of stress, burnout is inevitable if you don’t take steps to take better care of yourself. Burnout is the inability to relax, even during times you’ve set aside to take a break. Your mind is racing, and the steps you would normally take to find peace and relaxation seem beyond your grasp.

You’re probably thinking, I’ve felt this before, especially as we approach year-end. What can I do to help mitigate my situation?

While I don’t have all the answers, I’m glad you asked. Acknowledging that you are experiencing stress and burnout is the first step – this sounds obvious, but many of us ignore all the symptoms for far too long. Focus on improvement; since it won’t be possible to completely eliminate stress, it matters more how you manage it.

The Solution is How You Manage It

• Rest: This is crucial when trying to counter chronic stress. Physical rest is not enough. Experts recommend you should also prioritize mental, spiritual, emotional, sensory, social and creative rest. And remember to give yourself grace when allowing yourself to take the time to do so.
  
  
• Automate Steps and Processes: Automate! Automate! Automate! Identify tasks that are repetitive, do not need others’ review, need to be done at certain hours/intervals and do not require unique knowledge. Automating your processes is one big step that will go a long way to start taking control of managing your workload. (We can help!).
  
  
• Backup: You need to be able to disconnect. If you’re away and unavailable to complete a mandatory task, there must be someone else who can step in, so training of either internal or external backup support is critical. Consider what access these people will need to take on duties and set this up ahead of time (you’ll likely need several different people for separate tasks). For example, your outside counsel can be set up as a power-of-attorney to file Form 4s.

CompIntelligence Tools

No one is immune to stress. Thankfully, there are steps you can take to stay ahead of the burnout. CompIntelligence has created CompXchange, our equity compensation support system.

We all have repetitive tasks that we dislike doing because they are time-consuming, may require combining multiple reports or inputs, and have a non-negotiable deadline with multiple recipients.

CompIntelligence combines industry know-how with technology solutions that maximize efficiency and accuracy. The core of these solutions is CompXchange, our systems integration engine that works with any external data sources, including stock plan systems, HRIS, Payroll, spreadsheets and more. We pride ourselves on our CompXchange solutions - allowing you to customize your automation based upon your company needs.

Final Thoughts

Our profession attracts people who are passionate about their work and typically put themselves at the bottom of the priority list. Here are some reminders and ideas to ensure you’re looking after yourself too (because no one else will do it for you!):

• Start small. Consider introducing consistent routines throughout your day, such as a short stretch break or closing your eyes to mitigate screen strain at set intervals.
  
  
• Physical activity of some kind. I have a puppy at home, and he reminds me that a daily walk is required. Even without an adorable partner, setting aside 30 minutes a day for movement will increase your energy level, and also help you sleep better.
  
  
• Stay hydrated. I always have some kind of beverage at hand wherever I go. I’ve found the older I get, the more water I need to avoid feeling dehydrated.
  
  
• Stay in the moment. This one is hard for me, and I’m sure I’m not alone! Juggling many responsibilities and deadlines is a cornerstone of our work, but there is really no such thing as multitasking - you’re just moving constantly from one task to another. Whether you’re focusing on your breathing or that spreadsheet you must complete today, take one thing at a time.
  
  
• Celebrate your wins, no matter how small. Throughout my career, I’ve made it a point to let my manager know when I get an email thanking me or found a faster way to complete a task – sometimes you have to toot your own horn!
  
  
• Unplug and recharge. Set expectations for response time and availability. We can’t avoid those emergency messages, but for everything else, establish times when you shouldn't be expected to respond.
  
  
• Establish a sleep routine. Getting enough sleep is not a luxury, it’s a necessity to keep our minds sharp and to be productive.

Looking after yourself means choosing small steps that contribute to your whole well-being and making them a part of your daily routine. You’ll be a better person and a better equity professional for it, and you deserve the self-respect.

Time for my daily walk!