Was one of your New Year resolutions to develop a better work-life balance? Let’s look at what can happen to your body if you don’t take time out, and then discover ways you could make time for rejuvenation, even when life seems frantically busy.
Let’s look at a fairly typical busy day for many people. Jolted awake by the alarm, you’re catapulted into your morning routine. With the morning TV on, or talkback radio, you listen to the news while bolting down a quick breakfast. At work there is a deluge of tasks to complete, and emails keep pouring in; you’re so busy you decide to work through lunch – again – and just grab a coffee and something quick to keep you going. By the end of the working day you’re looking forward to relaxing at home; but you’re too tired to even think about preparing a home cooked meal, so you pick up takeaway. At least the kids like it. At home, you reach gratefully for the bottle of wine, and try to relax by zoning out in front of the TV. Eventually you fall into bed, and the cycle starts again the next morning.
By the end of the week you’re feeling completely wiped out, with little energy to enjoy your partner’s company or spend quality time with your children. You haven’t exercised, and your waistline is showing the evidence.
Our bodies are designed to cope well with short term bursts of stress, followed by recovery. Chronic stress leads to chronic health problems; like high blood pressure, bowel dysfunction, adrenal fatigue. We’re simply not designed to cope well without recovery. If you’ve ever watched the progress of a court case that drags on for months, you’ll notice how the participants seem to age rapidly in a short time. Sometimes their health deteriorates so much that the court case is suspended. That’s the physical effect of chronic stress.
You know you’ll feel better if you can only find time to exercise, to relax, to renew your spirituality; but how, when there doesn’t seem to be time? Here are some tips to help you make it happen:
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Schedule your time for exercise as if it was the most important meeting of the day (which it is, because if you don’t have your health you can’t do much). As soon as you start to exercise, your circulating stress hormones diminish.
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Switch off your technology at meal times, so you get to just enjoy your meal.
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Carve out time to renew your spiritual connections; through meditation, spiritual reading, or attending your church. It will re-connect you with the big picture of why you’re here.
- Becoming involved in an engaging creative activity, like painting, sewing or craft work will help you relax too.
You know that holidays are rejuvenating. Taking time out every day, just for you, is rejuvenating too. You're less likely to feel 'wiped out' by the end of the week.
Let’s look at a fairly typical busy day for many people. Jolted awake by the alarm, you’re catapulted into your morning routine. With the morning TV on, or talkback radio, you listen to the news while bolting down a quick breakfast. At work there is a deluge of tasks to complete, and emails keep pouring in; you’re so busy you decide to work through lunch – again – and just grab a coffee and something quick to keep you going. By the end of the working day you’re looking forward to relaxing at home; but you’re too tired to even think about preparing a home cooked meal, so you pick up takeaway. At least the kids like it. At home, you reach gratefully for the bottle of wine, and try to relax by zoning out in front of the TV. Eventually you fall into bed, and the cycle starts again the next morning.
By the end of the week you’re feeling completely wiped out, with little energy to enjoy your partner’s company or spend quality time with your children. You haven’t exercised, and your waistline is showing the evidence.
Our bodies are designed to cope well with short term bursts of stress, followed by recovery. Chronic stress leads to chronic health problems; like high blood pressure, bowel dysfunction, adrenal fatigue. We’re simply not designed to cope well without recovery. If you’ve ever watched the progress of a court case that drags on for months, you’ll notice how the participants seem to age rapidly in a short time. Sometimes their health deteriorates so much that the court case is suspended. That’s the physical effect of chronic stress.
You know you’ll feel better if you can only find time to exercise, to relax, to renew your spirituality; but how, when there doesn’t seem to be time? Here are some tips to help you make it happen:
- Schedule your time for exercise as if it was the most important meeting of the day (which it is, because if you don’t have your health you can’t do much). As soon as you start to exercise, your circulating stress hormones diminish. - Switch off your technology at meal times, so you get to just enjoy your meal. - Carve out time to renew your spiritual connections; through meditation, spiritual reading, or attending your church. It will re-connect you with the big picture of why you’re here. - Becoming involved in an engaging creative activity, like painting, sewing or craft work will help you relax too.You know that holidays are rejuvenating. Taking time out every day, just for you, is rejuvenating too. You're less likely to feel 'wiped out' by the end of the week.