The stress (and mindfuck) curve

13 April 2020

I recently had a good call with a fellow founder. We talked about how our businesses are doing, discussed the changes we’ve made, and traded notes on how we’re dealing with pressure.

It turned out that we both feel grateful to be alive during these trying times. The business environment today is grim, but if you’re up for a challenge, then this is the time to buckle down and shine.

We’re also both meditating more often as it calms our souls. While there are a lot of uncertainties, we believe there isn’t a point to worry, especially when a lot of things are not within our control.

But that’s easier said than done.

The mental pendulum

Fortunately, Tech in Asia had a pretty decent March.

But what’s gonna happen in April and the rest of 2020 and 2021? It’s truly a black box.

So my team and I can’t help but to think ahead and have Plan B, C, D, E, F, and G as we navigate the landmines.

I’m not zen like a Buddisht monk, and I admit that I find this whole Covid-19 situation quite a mindfuck. But really, let’s all calm down as there’s little point to worry too much about things that are out of our hands.

So that’s me, swinging between the “comfort” and “strain” zones like a pendulum. But overall, I feel great when I achieve optimal performance.

stress curve — Source: The Link Between Pressure and Performance

By sharing this openly, hopefully you’ll know that you’re not alone. 🤗

I think it’s only human to be mentally bouncing back and forth in times of great uncertainty. Just avoid getting burned out and try as much as you can to enjoy the ride.

Here are some things I do which hopefully can help you find some equilibrium as we operate under tremendous stress. If you have any tips, please let me know all about it.

Talk to people. Share your fuck-ups and struggles. You’ll feel better and you may even find solutions as you discuss them.
If you have kids, focus on them. Try explaining Covid-19 to a two-year-old child, you’ll probably get hilarious responses. Children are the happiest when schools go on lockdown, so tap into their positivity.
Exercise. Do it at home or outside, if your city isn’t on a full lockdown. I can no longer play tennis as they closed the courts, so I have to find other alternatives.
Meditate. I’m not a pro, but committing 10 minutes daily to meditation makes me feel a lot calmer.
Do random silly things during conference calls. Everyone needs some lighthearted fun.

Stay optimistic! 💪