Stress & Work/Life Balance: Get A Handle On It!
By Jai Butler On 03/26/2012 · Leave a Comment
Evolution: The Cliff note version
Our bodies, minds, and spirits evolved as a process of natural selection. We evolved to function and survive with stress. Hence stress is an essential element of why we exist, and why we evolved uniquely adaptive to extrinsic and intrinsic stressors based on a complex interaction of our glands and hormones. However, that may be wonderful to know; yet, how may you reduce the clutter, confusion, and stress in your life, and increase your ability to work, play, and live more in balance?
Balancing work-life challenges: personal, professional, and scholastic
“Stress is when you wake up screaming and you realize you haven’t fallen asleep yet!” – Unknown
Though the author of that quote is unknown, I think we may all identify with the sentiment. Below I have listed practical considerations for you to enact in your life which have been proven to reduce the physiological and psychological stress that your body experiences; and hence your mind and your spirit. By focusing on the mind-body-spirit triad we may experience a balance return to our lives. Stress has been discussed in contemporary research as equally destructive to the balance of our work-life on par with the most vicious diseases in modern society. Or put another way, Yordan Yordanov noted “in most cases stress is the root cause of death; illnesses are just the wrap up” (Stress quotes, 2012). ‘Balancing work-life challenges’ may be redefined therefore, as a combination of reducing harmful stress and becoming organized in our lives.
Reduce stress tactics!
Mind-body-spirit stress reduction encompasses a holistic range of considerations such as: get enough sleep, maintain proper nutrition, exercise regularly, maintain social support, find hobbies, pamper yourself, keep your mind sharp, have the right attitude, process your emotions, and maintain a spiritual practice (Stress and Self Care, 2012). How you specifically interpret and define those key strategies may be individual; yet, it is recommended that you equally address each one. There are 24 hours in a day, and frankly you require the investment and engagement in yourself to ensure your mind-body-spirit health.
Get organized tactics!
Millions of dollars are spent on seminars, training, and countless applications that are designed to help you get organized in your work-life and result in your enhanced time management. So what works, and what will work for you? Great question and let us share with you several “common denominator” tips that may begin the process of returning your work-life to balance.
Invest in a planner. It may be a smart phone, or a paper notebook but the key is to have a calendar, and a master to do list. We have found that if we can get an idea out of our “spinning minds and spinning hearts” and down on paper then two things happen, you reduce your stress, and secondly you can build your action plan to resource and execute the task!
Get to work. Write down your three most urgent tasks for the day and accomplish those tasks no matter what distraction may occur. By slowly chipping away at that master to-do list, you will begin to meet your goal of achieving a work-life balance.
No. Learn how to say no! It is tough. Yet, the more you say “yes” to tasks that are not formally yours, you distract yourself from those tasks which you are paid to do, or based on family, or work-life commitments you must do! Did I hear an amen?!
Trash. De-clutter your office, or your home, and hence your life. Use this mantra, “if I have not touched it in a year, it must not be important”, and give it to charity! Trash is defined as an item which is not required and is making your life more complex than it needs to be!
Control your time. You are given 24 hours in a day, and most of us require sleep, so your time is precious. Once you use a moment, it is gone for good; so how can you get the most out of that moment? Get a log book, and literally perform a professional and personal time-motion study at work and home on you…yes, I know it sounds geeky! But, you are interested in how you are spending and investing your time and the best way to determine where your precious time is spent is to run a stop watch on yourself for a few days (27 Great Tips to Keep Your Life Organized, 2007).
We have discussed a few recommendations to assist you in achieving a balance in your work-life and look forward to your comments and observations. Future posts will continue to discuss varied facets of this vexing challenge!
References:
Stress quotes. (2012). Retrieved March 20, 2012, from http://www.stress-management-for-health.com/stress-quotes.html
Stress and self care. (2012). Top 10 self care strategies for stress reduction. Retrieved March 20, 2012, from http://stress.about.com/od/lowstresslifestyle/tp/self_care.htm
27 Great tips to keep your life organized: zenhabits. (2007). Retrieved March 20, 2012, from http://zenhabits.net/27-great-tips-to-keep-your-life-organized/
By Jai Butler On 03/26/2012 · Leave a Comment
Evolution: The Cliff note version
Our bodies, minds, and spirits evolved as a process of natural selection. We evolved to function and survive with stress. Hence stress is an essential element of why we exist, and why we evolved uniquely adaptive to extrinsic and intrinsic stressors based on a complex interaction of our glands and hormones. However, that may be wonderful to know; yet, how may you reduce the clutter, confusion, and stress in your life, and increase your ability to work, play, and live more in balance?
Balancing work-life challenges: personal, professional, and scholastic
“Stress is when you wake up screaming and you realize you haven’t fallen asleep yet!” – Unknown
Though the author of that quote is unknown, I think we may all identify with the sentiment. Below I have listed practical considerations for you to enact in your life which have been proven to reduce the physiological and psychological stress that your body experiences; and hence your mind and your spirit. By focusing on the mind-body-spirit triad we may experience a balance return to our lives. Stress has been discussed in contemporary research as equally destructive to the balance of our work-life on par with the most vicious diseases in modern society. Or put another way, Yordan Yordanov noted “in most cases stress is the root cause of death; illnesses are just the wrap up” (Stress quotes, 2012). ‘Balancing work-life challenges’ may be redefined therefore, as a combination of reducing harmful stress and becoming organized in our lives.
Reduce stress tactics!
Mind-body-spirit stress reduction encompasses a holistic range of considerations such as: get enough sleep, maintain proper nutrition, exercise regularly, maintain social support, find hobbies, pamper yourself, keep your mind sharp, have the right attitude, process your emotions, and maintain a spiritual practice (Stress and Self Care, 2012). How you specifically interpret and define those key strategies may be individual; yet, it is recommended that you equally address each one. There are 24 hours in a day, and frankly you require the investment and engagement in yourself to ensure your mind-body-spirit health.
Get organized tactics!
Millions of dollars are spent on seminars, training, and countless applications that are designed to help you get organized in your work-life and result in your enhanced time management. So what works, and what will work for you? Great question and let us share with you several “common denominator” tips that may begin the process of returning your work-life to balance.
Invest in a planner. It may be a smart phone, or a paper notebook but the key is to have a calendar, and a master to do list. We have found that if we can get an idea out of our “spinning minds and spinning hearts” and down on paper then two things happen, you reduce your stress, and secondly you can build your action plan to resource and execute the task!
Get to work. Write down your three most urgent tasks for the day and accomplish those tasks no matter what distraction may occur. By slowly chipping away at that master to-do list, you will begin to meet your goal of achieving a work-life balance.
No. Learn how to say no! It is tough. Yet, the more you say “yes” to tasks that are not formally yours, you distract yourself from those tasks which you are paid to do, or based on family, or work-life commitments you must do! Did I hear an amen?!
Trash. De-clutter your office, or your home, and hence your life. Use this mantra, “if I have not touched it in a year, it must not be important”, and give it to charity! Trash is defined as an item which is not required and is making your life more complex than it needs to be!
Control your time. You are given 24 hours in a day, and most of us require sleep, so your time is precious. Once you use a moment, it is gone for good; so how can you get the most out of that moment? Get a log book, and literally perform a professional and personal time-motion study at work and home on you…yes, I know it sounds geeky! But, you are interested in how you are spending and investing your time and the best way to determine where your precious time is spent is to run a stop watch on yourself for a few days (27 Great Tips to Keep Your Life Organized, 2007).
We have discussed a few recommendations to assist you in achieving a balance in your work-life and look forward to your comments and observations. Future posts will continue to discuss varied facets of this vexing challenge!
References:
Stress quotes. (2012). Retrieved March 20, 2012, from http://www.stress-management-for-health.com/stress-quotes.html
Stress and self care. (2012). Top 10 self care strategies for stress reduction. Retrieved March 20, 2012, from http://stress.about.com/od/lowstresslifestyle/tp/self_care.htm
27 Great tips to keep your life organized: zenhabits. (2007). Retrieved March 20, 2012, from http://zenhabits.net/27-great-tips-to-keep-your-life-organized/
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