When did you do something for yourself?
We’re approaching the last month of 2016 and like many, I can feel the year end pressure. Getting the last projects closed and coordinating all the different Christmas parties are the biggest sources of stress. It’s good stress, right?! You’re probably in a similar situation and keep telling yourself, it’s all good.
What we don’t realise as we’re juggling 20 different activities at once, we are depleting ourselves. Winter weather may leave you with a cold or you’re feeling exhausted. You need to look after yourself. When was the last time you did something just for you?
Block time in your work calendar to complete special projects. You’re probably used to working with constant interruptions and changing priorities. Yet, your boss wants to know how that special project is coming along and you’ve done, well, nothing. By blocking time in your calendar, you can focus on this request. Turn your emails off. Put your phone on silent and let calls go into voice mail. You can check these after 30 minutes or 1 hour of dedicated work.
Choose who you want to spend time with. One of my friends here carefully reviews each invite. Do I have something else going on that day? Do I like the people attending? Do I enjoy the venue? How much driving is involved? Can I get there by metro to avoid traffic? If it’s a themed event, do I like the theme? Only if all answers are favourable, my friend would commit to these invites. At first, I thought it was too strict, however, it let her be in control of her time and reduce her stress levels.
Enjoy your meals. A lot of us crave something unhealthy. I strongly believe in allowing a balanced menu. Yes, last week, we ate some KFC and made sure the other meals were nutritious and yummy. What you fuel your body will give you the energy you need to handle the different requests made to you every single day. One meal should not throw your energy levels off, still you may want to review your overall food intake and look at eating quality foods.
Get your zzzs in. Living in a fast moving region, where the average work day also starts very early (e.g. 7 am), we often ignore our sleep needs. We can stay up late to answer just one more email or do just one more activity at night. In the morning, we feel tired and exhausted. Check how many hours of sleep and of quality sleep you’re getting. I recently met a business partner who’s given up sugar. You wouldn’t believe the positive impact it has had on his sleep and energy levels!
Make some time for what you enjoy. We all understand that life’s busy and we may not always get what we want. Looking after your children or partner may be a higher priority than looking after yourself. How can we feed their needs if our energy has been depleted? Doing something we love to do, whether it’s playing tennis, getting a massage or reading a book, we can recharge which is oh so important if we want to be there for our loved ones.
What are you favourite ways to look after yourself? I personally love to block 2 evenings per week where I’ve no obligations and do whatever I’m in the mood for that night. Let it be going for a walk, calling a friend or simply crashing on the couch. Send us a comment how you relax or even better, send us a picture!
Until next time,
Agni