Burnout is real.
It took a trip to the emergency room in 2016 before I realized my work-life balance needed a major calibration. Now, I spend ample time focusing on self-care and scheduling my days to devote time to work, family and me-time. Yes, that’s a thing.
Your number one business asset is you.
You can’t earn an income, build a business, make strides in your career, launch that new website or tackle a dream project when you’re lying in a hospital bed trying to pull your physical, emotional and mental health back together.
Please, take care of you.
Take Back Your Time
So, how in the heck do we do that when there are emails to answer, deadlines to meet, calls to make and commitments beyond work to tend to? I’m still working on this juggling act, and recently penned a three-part series on self-care and self-love for the Tom’s of Maine Good Matters blog about my health and wellness journey.
The short answer: You need to put yourself on your schedule. Period. Prioritize your most important and time-sensitive tasks, including things that improve your health, like exercise, cooking fresh meals, meditation, spending time in nature or visiting with friends. I’ve been known to block out time on my Google Calendar to sit in the yard with my dogs or simply “go be creative” away from my keyboard.
Your to-do list will never be 100 percent caught up, so you might as well add yourself to it, ASAP.
In Part 1 of my series, I discuss how to identify and accept the difficult situations we encounter. These might be at work, or during our personal time. Both affect one another and contribute to the stress in our lives.
In Part 2 I share ways to become more mindful about our days and how we can begin to heal. Both take daily dedication, but are worth the effort tenfold.
In Part 3, I wrap up the series with a focus on finding balance and ways you can make time for yourself each day, even if it is only for a few minutes at a time.
Why is This Important?
Money, work and family are the three top sources of stress among adults in America, according to the American Psychological Association (APA). And guess what comes in 4th place? Health.
When you’re exposed to chronic, prolonged stressful situations, your body sends you signals. According to the Mayo Clinic, long-term amplification of the body’s stress-response system can lead to anxiety, depression, digestive issues, headaches, heart disease, sleep problems, weight gain and memory problems.
So, take a deep breath and get a handle on how you process emotions, feelings and stressors in your life. I can personally share that I’m much more creative, productive and happy when my days are balanced.
Are you on your schedule?
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