Are Your Work and Life Fighting With Each Other?
By Sandy Schroeder
More and more people are questioning their priorities when it comes to work and the rest of their life. In a fast-paced world it can be hard to keep work and life issues balanced.
WellAndGood.com has come up with some easy habits to avoid that "out-of-whack" feeling as stress drops away and life settles down.
Try these tips to stay up with work and life.
Begin the day with your choices - Start your day with a workout, quick walk or simple meditation. Whatever works for you should come first, followed by a healthy breakfast. Then you may want to log on to check emails or consider your schedule before you head off to work. Keeping your mind and body strong will make the whole day go better.
Figure out how boundaries work for you - Some people need clear boundaries between work and home to avoid bouncing back and forth and being less effective in each area. Other people find they can blend work and home, which may lead to work sessions at home, or visits from kids at work. Only you can decide if this is feasible, or not. Either way, with clear boundaries or a flexible schedule that allows time for every one, you will probably get more done and feel a lot less guilt.
Try to find work that you love - A lot of the job pressures may lighten up when you find the right job. Life ceases to be a grind. You sleep better, actually enjoy going to work, and usually find creative ways to blend in the rest of your life.
Schedule breaks in your day - To actually make exercise and time-out breaks happen, you have to treat them like all of your other appointments. Then you have a chance of making them happen, or covering them with some good alternative plans if you are too busy. After awhile exercise "appointments" may seem as essential as all of your other tasks.
Take control of your calls - To make sure you get enough rest every night, set a bedtime and stick to it. Turn off your phone and check for any time-related calls or emails in the morning. This avoids staying up half the night answering emails, or feeling like you are on alert after hours. Insisting on separate time can become a habit that lets you really rest and be a lot more effective the next day.
Every step that you take to smooth out the issues between your job and your life will pay off in the long run. The benefits will show up with less stress, more energy, and a clearer focus as you lose that "out-of-whack" feeling and just enjoy being in charge.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Saint Peters, Mo.