Do you find yourself working or thinking about work constantly?
Are you obsessed with planning what you need to get done next and never give your mind or body, for that matter, a rest?
Since technology has made it so that we can work from virtually anywhere, it has become difficult to just say, “I’ll get to it later.”
We feel obligated to jump to answer any and all messages, emails, and calls to not let down others on the receiving end.
Everyone knows we are glued to our phones as they are as well, so the pressure is not only to answer efficiently, but immediately.
I will admit to being a workaholic and having felt guilty for enjoying time when I’m doing things for myself. Lately, I haven’t been able to truly relax and enjoy my leisure time as I’m often preoccupied with getting back to the grind as soon as possible.
I have been working on the following practices to bring balance and calm back into my life, and I hope they can help you as well.
Today we are going to look at the importance of:
- Adding exercise into your life.
- Setting personal goals.
- Organizing your time outside of work.
- “Me” time.
- Eating properly and healthful
- Sleeping sufficiently to perform at your best.
- Just saying “no” when necessary.
- Device-free time every once in a while.
- Socializing.
- Being grateful for what we have.
#1 Exercise
No matter how busy you are, exercise should be one of your top priorities!
Not only does exercising keep you in healthy physical shape, but it also helps clear your mind and maintain your mental health. Fitting in at least three, short workouts into your schedule a week would be a great start.
Walking or jogging is one of the most accessible forms of exercise as you just throw on a pair of sneakers and run out the door. It’s cheap, convenient, and refreshing. By running or walking, you will breathe fresh air, enjoy the outdoors, and even take in some of that vital vitamin D!
If running isn’t your thing, you can look into local health clubs for functional training classes, yoga, Zumba, whatever interests you. It also helps to work out with a friend or in groups as you have motivation and company right next to you.
Suppose you don’t have time to travel somewhere. In that case, there are endless equipment-free functional training videos and applications that you can do from the comfort of your own home.
No matter what type of exercise you choose to do, the benefits will be infinite.
#2 Set Personal Goals
We are accustomed to setting goals at work, whether it’s getting things in before deadlines, new sales objectives, or even a promotion.
But what about you? What do you want to do?
Choose a new, personal goal like a Couch to 5k, reading a series you’ve had on the back burner, or taking that painting class. Scheduling time for yourself is a way to take your mind off work and have another goal to become involved in.
#3 Organize Your Time
At first, organizing your time may seem like a stressful task or something you would need to do for work, but in the end, the goal is to work less and enjoy more.
For those of us who are workaholics, if we don’t set up specific times to work and particular times to rest, we will work more and ignore our well-deserved restful moments.
Set daily schedules, with the most important being your work time limit. There has to be a time to turn off work notifications and take time for yourself.
Also, schedule exercise, meals, family and friends, hobbies, and sleep. There is time for everything; we just need to set ourselves work limits and understand that we deserve to enjoy our lives.
Related: Should Runners Take Vitamin D For Recovery?
#4 Schedule “Me Time”
To avoid running yourself into the ground with work, set time aside for yourself.
This time is for anything that brings you joy and takes your mind off work! Whether it’s baking, snuggling up with a good book, or listening to music, choose what you love and carve out time for it. If you don’t actually schedule it, you’ll be likely to work right through it.
#5 Eat Properly
Your body needs enough fuel to function properly and remain in tip-top shape. Schedule your meals and snacks throughout the day to have a constant flow of healthy calories. What you eat is also essential, so choose carefully.
Pack your meals and snacks in advance or find healthy spots to order from. Get in a nice variety of vegetables, proteins, and carbs for a healthy diet in general.
Also, be sure and hydrate with a minimum of 2 liters of water per day. Having a bottle with you at all times will make it more convenient for you to take in enough liquid.
Sometimes it’s challenging to consume all of our needed vitamins and minerals, so look into taking a multivitamin that can make up for any missed nutrients from food.
If possible, don’t work while you eat. Focusing on your meal and actually enjoying it can pull your mind away from work for those short moments.
#6 Get Your Sleep
Aside from eating well, sleeping well needs to be up there on your priority list. Sleeping a solid 8 hours a night is imperative to staying healthy and performing at your best each day.
Therefore, don’t sacrifice your zzzs to continue working late into the evenings, where you may no longer be productive anyway.
Schedule a specific nightly bedtime to ensure you get your hours in. If you have trouble falling asleep, put on some relaxing ocean sounds or meditation, light a lavender candle, or burn essential oils. Anything you need to do to get your mind off work, wind down, and gently drift off into a deep sleep.
#7 Learn To Say “No”
If you are a “yes” person, you most likely try to please everyone. You don’t want to let others down and take on everything yourself. Sound familiar? We have to learn how to balance what we honestly can and cannot take on.
Evaluate what you are asked to do and make a well-thought-out decision, instead of just yesing everything asked of you immediately. Think if you really have enough time to complete the task or if it would end up overwhelming you.
Accept that it is okay to say “no”. Don’t feel guilty about doing it every once in a while.
#8 Turn Off Your Devices
When outside of work hours, turn off your phone and put it out of sight. We have gotten to the point where there are phone jails to actually lock them up for a specific amount of time. If you are at this level and need this, check it out here!
Having your phone off but still in your line of vision causes stress and can make you anxious. If you see it, you will want to check it, so out of sight, out of mind.
It will be a difficult task at first. Still, you will learn to enjoy these moments of complete freedom from technology. Don’t worry, those messages will be there for you later. You won’t miss out, but it will just give your mind a short break from the constant stimulation of notifications and the need to respond immediately.
#9 Allow Time For Friends
If you have trouble taking your mind off work on your own, it’s a great time to schedule some time with friends. Set up a coffee date, go bowling, or decide to take a walk in the park. There you kill two birds with one stone and get some exercise simultaneously.
Talking with others will distract you from work and give you a chance to enjoy other parts of life. It will also allow you to catch up with those you may not have been able to see in a while.
#10 Enjoy the Little Things
We live in such a rushed society today that we often don’t slow down for a moment to be thankful for what we have. Even if it’s just one minute a day, perhaps when you are winding down to sleep; think about what you are grateful for. It’s a beautiful feeling to focus on the positives and leave your worries behind, even if just for a moment.
Slowing down and setting aside time to do things for yourself is much easier said than done, but it is essential for a healthy life. I hope you can try and implement some of these ideas into your everyday life and take some time to enjoy a bit more.
