Stressed at work? This CEO reveals simple phrase that helps her ‘think clearer', ‘solve problems’

CEO Jamie Wood’s company helps users analyse daily habits and build strategies to reduce stress and improve focus. (Representational image)

For many workers, receiving an after-hours email from their boss is enough to trigger anxiety. But according to Jamie Wood, CEO of biotechnology firm Autonomic, a simple five-word question can help redirect that stress and preserve mental energy: “Is this truly life-threatening?”

Speaking on her company’s neuroscience-based coaching platform, Wood explained that the body often reacts to minor stressors—like a missed deadline or a tense meeting—with the same intensity as it would to a major threat. “They physically tense up or emotionally react as if they’re facing danger,” she said.

Wood’s company helps users analyse daily habits and build strategies to reduce stress and improve focus. She says asking yourself reflective questions can shift your brain’s response from automatic panic to calm evaluation. “It makes it easier to relax,” Wood said. “You think clearer, solve problems, and manage your emotions better.”

The technique works by moving your thinking from the amygdala—your brain’s emotional centre—to the prefrontal cortex, which governs rational decision-making. “You’re challenging yourself to ask, ‘Does this situation warrant me to exhaust myself?’” CNBC Make It quoted Wood as saying. “Does it warrant the same reaction as seeing a tiger walk across the street? Absolutely not. Save your energy for actual tigers.”

Experts agree that redirecting anxious thoughts can be helpful, but long-term change may require deeper reflection. Harvard Medical School psychiatry professor David Rosmarin advises against suppressing negative feelings. Instead, he suggests exploring what your anxiety reveals about your values. “You may be nervous about a mistake at work because professionalism and growth matter to you,” he said.

Psychologist Luana Marques, also from Harvard, recommends writing about the problem, your emotional response, and any resulting behaviours. “Then take small, actionable steps,” she said—like replying to the email or asking for feedback.