October 8, 2012 by smith3993
Are you one of the many who is struggling with finding that balance in your life? Are you finding it harder and harder to meet the challenges of work and the demands of the rest of your life? This is occurring more and more due to the number of cutbacks and layoffs at many job locations. People are afraid to put in fewer hours because they are afraid they may be next on the layoff list. Dr. Robert Brooks, co-author of The Power of Resilience: Achieving Balance, Confidence and Personal Strength in Your Life wrote about these very types of situations. For many people the number of hours cannot be controlled, but the other ways you find enjoyment in your life can be under your control.
Listed are five ideas for adding a little more balance to your daily routine.
1. Work in some downtime each week. Make it a point to schedule time with your family and friends when you do your weekly schedule. This can help you recharge and it gives you something to look forward to. This may also help you manage your time better so that you do not have to cancel the commitment.
One idea is on that night or activity out go ahead and schedule the next month’s activity so it will not get forgotten or put on the to do list forever.
2. Drop Activities that Sap your Energy
If you have activities that sap your energy drop them. Many have experienced the colleague that is constantly venting or gossiping. Ask yourself if this is really enhancing your career or personal life. If not it may be time to nicely excuse yourself. Another energy drain for many people is the time spent on the web and social media. These can be a big time drain causing us to leave work later or making us less efficient without realizing it. Limit or control the amount of time you spend in these tasks.
3. Organize and Prioritize your Errands.
Although there may be an increased cost to buying groceries or stamps online, for example the time savings may be worth the extra cost. Asking a student down the road to mow for you or having dry cleaning dropped off and picked up may well be worth the money. Another suggestion is trading services with a friend or neighbor. Choose the things you like to do and do those for someone else and let them do what they like to do in return. An example might be trading babysitting for gardening services.
4. Exercise for energy boosting and clearer minds.
Research shows exercise can actually help you be more alert. Sometimes it can be a little time alone to think about things and get your day and thoughts organized and ready to go!
5. Relaxation, even a little, can go a long way. Setting big goals can make one more stressed so start with small steps like trying to leave the office earlier one day per week. Slowly, building more activities that are important to you into your life is key. Even during the most hectic of days a 10 to 15 minute recharge of the battery can do all of us some good!!
Try out one or more of these tips and soon the burnout may decrease and the energy you feel may shine through with brilliant colors.
Author: Liz Smith, NE Regional Program Specialist, Ohio State University Extension.
Peer Reviewed: Dana Brown, FCS Extension Educator, Ohio State University Extension.
Source: WebMD – www. Webmd.com/balance/guide/5-strategies-for-life-balance
November 26, 2012
Burnout or Balance– how can you make the most of your days? « Live Healthy Live Well
maximios Blog
October 8, 2012 by smith3993
Are you one of the many who is struggling with finding that balance in your life? Are you finding it harder and harder to meet the challenges of work and the demands of the rest of your life? This is occurring more and more due to the number of cutbacks and layoffs at many job locations. People are afraid to put in fewer hours because they are afraid they may be next on the layoff list. Dr. Robert Brooks, co-author of The Power of Resilience: Achieving Balance, Confidence and Personal Strength in Your Life wrote about these very types of situations. For many people the number of hours cannot be controlled, but the other ways you find enjoyment in your life can be under your control.
Listed are five ideas for adding a little more balance to your daily routine.
1. Work in some downtime each week. Make it a point to schedule time with your family and friends when you do your weekly schedule. This can help you recharge and it gives you something to look forward to. This may also help you manage your time better so that you do not have to cancel the commitment.
One idea is on that night or activity out go ahead and schedule the next month’s activity so it will not get forgotten or put on the to do list forever.
2. Drop Activities that Sap your Energy
If you have activities that sap your energy drop them. Many have experienced the colleague that is constantly venting or gossiping. Ask yourself if this is really enhancing your career or personal life. If not it may be time to nicely excuse yourself. Another energy drain for many people is the time spent on the web and social media. These can be a big time drain causing us to leave work later or making us less efficient without realizing it. Limit or control the amount of time you spend in these tasks.
3. Organize and Prioritize your Errands.
Although there may be an increased cost to buying groceries or stamps online, for example the time savings may be worth the extra cost. Asking a student down the road to mow for you or having dry cleaning dropped off and picked up may well be worth the money. Another suggestion is trading services with a friend or neighbor. Choose the things you like to do and do those for someone else and let them do what they like to do in return. An example might be trading babysitting for gardening services.
4. Exercise for energy boosting and clearer minds.
Research shows exercise can actually help you be more alert. Sometimes it can be a little time alone to think about things and get your day and thoughts organized and ready to go!
5. Relaxation, even a little, can go a long way. Setting big goals can make one more stressed so start with small steps like trying to leave the office earlier one day per week. Slowly, building more activities that are important to you into your life is key. Even during the most hectic of days a 10 to 15 minute recharge of the battery can do all of us some good!!
Try out one or more of these tips and soon the burnout may decrease and the energy you feel may shine through with brilliant colors.
Author: Liz Smith, NE Regional Program Specialist, Ohio State University Extension.
Peer Reviewed: Dana Brown, FCS Extension Educator, Ohio State University Extension.
Source: WebMD – www. Webmd.com/balance/guide/5-strategies-for-life-balance